S8624A

The New York State Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Fernandez to remove barriers preventing formerly incarcerated individuals from serving as certified recovery peer advocates in correctional facilities. The bill, which amends the Correction Law, passed on a 58-2 roll call vote, with only Sens. Helming and Stec voting in opposition. Sen. Fernandez argued the measure addresses a critical gap in substance abuse treatment access, noting that peer advocates with lived experience of incarceration are invaluable to recovery efforts. She cited studies showing that incarcerated individuals who engage with peer advocacy programs experience better health and behavioral outcomes and lower recidivism rates. While New York mandated peer support in jails in 2021, Fernandez said county jails have imposed restrictive policies that effectively exclude formerly incarcerated individuals from serving as advocates, perpetuating cycles of marginalization. The bill takes effect 60 days after becoming law.