FINANCE

NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE — The judiciary's new leadership signaled a significant shift in its relationship with the Legislature during a joint budget hearing Thursday, with Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas presenting a $2.7 billion budget request that prioritizes addressing Family Court backlogs and expanding civil legal services. Zayas, appointed to his position in May 2023, emphasized his 36 years of on-the-ground courtroom experience and personal background growing up in public housing in Manhattan and Harlem, framing his approach as fundamentally different from his predecessors. The judiciary's budget request represents a 5.2 percent increase over the current year, or $131.2 million, and includes $50.8 million in additional funding for operational enhancements in Family and Housing courts. The testimony drew strong support from Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Senate Codes Committee Chair Jamaal T. Bailey, both of whom praised Zayas for his responsiveness and collaborative approach. Hoylman-Sigal focused on Family Court concerns and the need for camera access to courtrooms, while Bailey inquired about adding a law department pool of attorneys to Family Court to help address case backlogs. A key point of contention emerged regarding the Governor's proposal to withdraw $100 million from the IOLA (Interest on Lawyer Account) fund, which supports civil legal services. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz criticized the proposal as poor fiscal practice, and Zayas agreed, noting that the judiciary opposes anything that would lower legal services funding. Zayas also flagged a similar sweep of funds from the Indigent Legal Services account. Zayas highlighted historic diversity achievements in judicial appointments, noting that 22 of his 36 acting Supreme Court judge appointments had diverse backgrounds, and that the top administrative team of 31 people includes 15 people of color. He also announced the appointment of the first statewide coordinating judge for family matters, Richard Rivera, the first Latino appointed to such a position. The hearing was the third of 13 planned budget hearings on the Governor's 2024-2025 executive budget. Additional testimony from other public protection agencies, including the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Division of State Police, and Division of Criminal Justice Services, was scheduled to follow. NEW YORK — Chief Administrative Judge Zayas faced pointed questioning from state legislators on January 25 during a joint budget hearing on public protection, with senators expressing concerns about funding gaps in mental health courts, rural Family Court capacity, and the implementation of Raise the Age juvenile justice reforms. Judge Zayas testified that the Office of Court Administration is requesting $1.3 million for mental health court expansion and $22 million in capital improvements, primarily for the Second Department appellate division. However, Sen. Ramos (D-Queens) challenged the adequacy of mental health court funding, noting that the Executive Budget contains no real increase despite rhetoric about the program's importance. She cited estimates that true expansion would cost $16 million, accounting for caseworkers at $75,000 annually across 62 counties. Sen. Borrello (R-Western NY) presented a stark case study of a 16-year-old arrested 16 times in 1.5 months in Dunkirk, questioning how Raise the Age addresses repeat offenders and gang recruitment. He pressed Judge Zayas on whether sufficient funding exists for county detention and treatment programs, which cost approximately $1,000 per day. Sen. Stec (R-North Country) advocated for a dedicated Family Court judge for Essex County, which has a population of 38,000 and currently has one judge handling Family, County, and Surrogate's courts plus four specialty courts, with nearly 1,000 new cases and 3,000 appearances annually. Judge Zayas indicated that judge assignments are determined by the Legislature, not OCA. On other matters, Judge Zayas expressed strong support for the Second Look Act, which would allow judicial review of sentences beyond illegality, calling it a "no-brainer." He also acknowledged that discovery law reforms, while necessary to prevent Brady violations, have created unintended backlogs as district attorneys struggle to assemble materials and defense attorneys challenge certifications. Assemblyman Lavine praised Judge Zayas's collaborative approach and noted that the Legislature has provided funding for 28 new Family Court judges with $11.6 million in partial-year funding. The hearing revealed tensions between the judiciary's budget requests and legislative concerns about whether funding adequately addresses rural and underserved areas. NEW YORK — A joint legislative hearing on the 2024-2025 Executive Budget for public protection revealed deep divisions over judicial funding priorities, with state officials defending court modernization spending while advocates pressed for emergency investment in Family Court representation. Chief Administrative Judge Zayas testified that the Office of Court Administration's $93.4 million technology budget—a $14.6 million increase—would modernize courtrooms with digital evidence displays, virtual proceeding capabilities, and live-streaming infrastructure. He acknowledged a 250 percent surge in speedy trial dismissals since 2019, attributing the increase to prosecutors' difficulty obtaining and certifying discovery materials, and called for technological solutions rather than legislative changes to discovery law. But the hearing's most contentious moment came when Patricia Warth, director of the Office of Indigent Legal Services, presented data showing Family Court attorneys carry caseloads 50 percent higher than criminal counterparts while spending less than half the resources. She requested $50 million for improved Family Court defense in the coming fiscal year—part of a three-year, $150 million commitment—and strongly opposed the Executive Budget's proposal to sweep $234 million from the Indigent Legal Services Fund to the General Fund. "Family Court has been left behind," Warth testified, warning that underfunded defense attorneys contribute to disparate impacts on families of color in the child welfare system. She noted that only one-third of New York counties currently receive additional Family Court representation funding. Legislators signaled support for Warth's position. Assemblywoman Mitaynes raised allegations of pro-bank bias in mortgage foreclosure cases, citing a judge whose rulings were overturned 32 times by the Appellate Division in three years. Judge Zayas defended OCA's investigation, saying the allegations were unfounded. Judge Zayas also acknowledged he should have requested significantly more funding for civil legal services, telling Assemblyman Burdick: "I keep thinking I made a mistake and we should have requested 200 more million dollars for civil legal services." The hearing, held before the Senate Finance Committee, highlighted tensions between the Executive's budget priorities and legislative concerns about access to justice, particularly in Family Court and for vulnerable populations including migrants facing deportation. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE — The heads of two critical judicial and legal services agencies testified before the Senate Finance Committee on January 25 that the Executive Budget's proposed funding falls dangerously short of what is needed to maintain public confidence in the courts and ensure quality legal representation for the poor. Robert Tembeckjian, administrator of the Commission on Judicial Conduct, told lawmakers that the Commission received a record 2,800 complaints in 2023—up nearly 400 from the previous year—yet the Executive Budget provides only $184,000 in funding increases when the Commission requested $770,000. The shortfall means the agency cannot implement a case management system, cover mandatory salary increases, or address rising rent and software costs, Tembeckjian said. "The Executive Budget only recommends 184,000, which is barely—it's actually not enough to cover the mandatory statutory increases in the salary to our existing staff," Tembeckjian testified. He noted that the Commission has historically been underfunded by the Executive but supported by the Legislature, which has increased the budget by $3 million over his tenure. Cheryl Warth, director of the Office of Indigent Legal Services, testified that a proposed $234 million transfer from the Indigent Legal Services Fund to the General Fund, combined with inadequate funding for parental representation, threatens the quality of public defense. She warned that without adequate funding, a Hurrell-Harring-type lawsuit in family court is likely. "All the essential elements are there," Warth said, citing a 2019 commission report on poor quality representation and a Family Court system in crisis. Warth requested a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and $50 million phased in over three years for improved parental representation, with full implementation requiring $150 million. She noted that funding for the Hurrell-Harring settlement has been flat for years despite 3.5-7% annual inflation, forcing providers to reduce staff. In 2023, ILS processed 1,500 claims totaling $210 million—an exponential increase from 1,036 claims worth $82 million in 2022. Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed strong opposition to both budget cuts, calling the sweep of ILS funds "unacceptable and outrageous." He noted that neither agency received advance notice of the budget reductions and highlighted that Commission staffing has declined from 63 full-time employees in 1978 to 49 today, despite a record increase in complaints. Sen. Bailey, chair of the Codes Committee, emphasized the cost-benefit of investing in parental representation, noting that quality legal services can prevent unnecessary removal of children from families and reduce costly foster care placements. He asked Warth to explain that parental representation is far more than just courtroom advocacy—it includes wraparound services such as social workers and case managers who help families address underlying issues. Both testifiers expressed hope that the Legislature would restore the proposed cuts when the final budget is enacted. Tembeckjian noted that the Commission's work is "showing no signs of diminishing as time goes on" as public awareness of judicial ethics grows. Warth emphasized that the ILS Fund currently has sufficient resources to support both settlement implementation and new parental representation funding without the proposed transfer to the General Fund. NEW YORK — State officials testified before a joint legislative committee on Thursday that crime reduction efforts are working, with shootings down significantly and incarcerated populations declining, though they warned of persistent challenges in staffing, facility safety, and housing for people leaving custody. The hearing on Governor Hochul's 2024-2025 Executive Budget for public protection agencies revealed mixed results across the criminal justice system. The Division of Criminal Justice Services reported that shootings decreased 24 percent from 2022 and 36 percent from their 2021 peak, resulting in 1,013 fewer shootings and 198 fewer gun deaths. Commissioner Rossana Rosado highlighted investments in crime prevention programs now operating in multiple counties, including the GIVE initiative in 21 counties and the SNUG outreach program in 14 communities. However, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision reported alarming increases in facility violence. Acting Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III disclosed that staff assaults rose 13 percent to 1,671 last year, while incarcerated-on-incarcerated assaults jumped 42 percent to 2,107—both at record levels. Despite these challenges, DOCCS reported success with its Edgecombe Transitional Housing Program, which has prevented over 215 individuals from entering the New York City homeless shelter system. The State Police reported seizing 1,316 illegal guns in 2023, a 159 percent increase since 2018. The agency is expanding its workforce by 101 positions in the proposed budget and launched a new Trooper Academy in Cazenovia to address staffing shortages. Senators pressed officials on data gaps and funding adequacy. Sen. Shelley Mayer questioned why the Indigent Legal Services agency lacks data on how many parents it serves despite requesting $150 million for improved representation. Sen. Salazar challenged whether $2 million in additional transitional housing funding is sufficient given the prison-to-shelter pipeline affecting thousands of people leaving custody. The Commission on Judicial Conduct reported receiving 2,800 complaints last year, with about 70 percent of its public disciplinary actions involving non-lawyer judges in town and village courts. Administrator Robert Tembeckjian testified that proposed legislation allowing post-resignation discipline would not require significant additional funding since investigations are already completed before judges leave office. The hearing, held before the Joint Legislative Committee on Finance, underscored the state's mixed progress on public safety while highlighting persistent resource constraints and operational challenges across multiple agencies. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARING ON 2024-2025 PUBLIC PROTECTION BUDGET — Acting DOCCS Commissioner Vincent Martuscello faced pointed questions about medical care quality in state prisons during a joint legislative hearing on the 2024-2025 executive budget for public protection agencies. Sen. Salazar referenced a recent report documenting preventable deaths in custody and questioned whether substandard medical treatment contributes to "shocking statistics" about prison mortality and reduced life expectancy for incarcerated individuals. Martuscello disputed the characterization of substandard care but acknowledged that 107 people died in DOCCS custody last year—the lowest number in 25 years—with 54 from natural causes, 2 from overdoses, and 10 from suicide (a 44% decrease from the previous year). Forty autopsies remain pending. Martuscello also disclosed significant disparities in gender-affirming care: DOCCS received 148 requests for gender-affirming housing but approved only 52; received 21 referral requests for top surgery and completed 10; and received 3 requests for bottom surgery but completed none. He attributed the gaps to the external provider process and said the agency is working to secure a provider for bottom surgery. The hearing revealed a critical staffing crisis driving major budget proposals. DOCCS has 3,800 vacancies, including 1,900 correction officer positions, prompting Martuscello to request Article VII authority to close up to five prisons with 90 days' notice. He said closures would save $77 million and reduce the correction officer vacancy rate from 12.5% to below 6%. The agency also plans to eliminate approximately 1,500 FTEs through attrition, with no layoffs anticipated given existing vacancies. DCJS Commissioner José Rosado defended bail reform, noting that crime has declined significantly despite the law remaining in effect. He cited $120 million in discovery reform funding and $10 million for property crime prosecution. The State Police will receive $25 million for a new Smash-and-Grab Enforcement Unit with 101 positions (91 sworn, 10 nonsworn) scattered across nine troops. Sen. Murray raised concerns about crime statistics reliability, noting that the data collection methodology counts multiple arrests of the same individual as a single rearrest. She cited a specific example where someone arrested and released 16 times is counted as one rearrest, questioning how crime can be reported as down under this methodology. DCJS officials acknowledged the methodology but defended its consistency with prior years. The hearing, held January 25, 2024, included testimony from DOCCS, DCJS, and State Police officials responding to questions from Senate and Assembly members on criminal justice spending, prison operations, and public safety initiatives. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE — A joint legislative hearing on the 2024-2025 Executive Budget for public protection agencies revealed deep tensions over prison closures, correctional violence, and law enforcement resource allocation, with lawmakers challenging agency officials on data, staffing crises, and the effectiveness of recent criminal justice reforms. The most contentious exchanges centered on the state's correctional system, where Acting DOCCS Commissioner Vincent Martuscello faced aggressive questioning from multiple legislators about a dramatic surge in prison violence. Assemblyman Palmesano cited data showing assaults on staff have increased 197 percent and assaults on inmates 217 percent since 2011, with a 42 percent spike in inmate-on-staff assaults in just the past two years following implementation of the HALT Act, which restricted solitary confinement. "We have a powder-keg environment inside our correctional facilities," Palmesano said, calling for repeal of HALT and restoration of segregation tools for violent inmates. Martuscello defended the department's approach, noting that 73 percent of the current population are violent felony offenders and that approximately 2,500 people are involved in violence within institutions. He emphasized that 97 percent of staff injuries from assaults result in no or minor injury, according to American Correctional Association standards. The commissioner highlighted new initiatives including a Prison Violence Task Force, drug interdiction efforts, and predictive analysis programs aimed at early intervention. Sen. Stec (R-Queensbury) raised concerns that Residential Rehabilitation Unit inmates receive better privileges than honor block inmates, suggesting the state is rewarding bad behavior. Martuscello attributed the perception to phone capabilities on tablets in RRUs and said a recent contract renegotiation will install WiFi in all general population areas to increase phone access. On organized retail theft, lawmakers expressed support for the Governor's $15 million commitment but pressed for details on implementation. Assistant Deputy Superintendent West said large box stores and bodegas have been hit heavily and that the State Police are developing a plan in coordination with local law enforcement and federal partners, with potential for federal prosecution of large cases. Sen. Palumbo raised concerns about crime statistics being used as "political football," distinguishing between poverty-driven theft and organized retail theft. He suggested the legislature consider aggregating penalties for organized retail theft similar to federal drug prosecution practices. DCJS Commissioner Rosado noted that funding is specifically allocated to analyze data on a region-by-region basis to separate poverty and addiction-driven crime from organized attempts to destabilize communities. On youth violence, Sen. Myrie advocated for expanding after-school programming, which he called a proven tool to reduce violence and gun crimes. Commissioner Rosado described communities across the state—Utica, Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Nassau County—that have discontinued after-school programs, leaving youth unsupervised during peak crime hours (2-6 p.m.). He noted that SNUG team findings show youth "want to be heard and they want to be seen." Sen. Gonzalez raised privacy concerns about State Police social media analysts monitoring for bias crimes and school threats, questioning whether the practice disproportionately targets certain communities. She also pressed DOCCS on its contract with Securus Technologies for recording inmate phone calls, expressing concern about recordings of legal calls. Martuscello clarified that legal calls are routed through administrative network legal phone booths that are not recorded. On prison closures, the Governor's proposal to accelerate the timeline to 90 days drew criticism from multiple lawmakers. Sen. O'Mara questioned why the state is seeking faster approval when it has not yet identified which prisons will close or what types of facilities are involved. Martuscello said the accelerated timeline is necessary to provide staff relief, as correction officers are working mandatory doubles and giving up regular days off. The state's prison population has declined from 56,000 to 32,000 over the period discussed. On ammunition background checks, Acting State Police Superintendent Chiumento reported that out of 277,000 tests conducted, fewer than 300 people remain on delay status—less than 1 percent. Sen. O'Mara raised concerns about delays impacting gun shops along the Pennsylvania border and accessibility issues for Amish and Mennonite communities unable to obtain photographic identification for religious reasons. Chiumento said he was unaware of the Amish issue and would investigate. The hearing underscored the legislature's struggle to balance public safety concerns with criminal justice reform, with lawmakers divided on whether recent policies have gone too far in restricting law enforcement tools or not far enough in addressing root causes of crime. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE EXAMINES 2024-2025 PUBLIC PROTECTION BUDGET Albany — State officials defended their 2024-2025 public protection budget before a joint legislative committee Thursday, fielding pointed questions about artificial intelligence policy, cellular service gaps, and correctional facility programs. The hearing featured testimony from three agency heads: Acting DOCCS Commissioner Brian Martuscello, DHSES Commissioner Jackie Bray, and OITS Chief Information Officer Dru Rai. The session revealed significant budget commitments and emerging policy challenges across corrections, emergency management, and technology. Commissioner Bray outlined a $9 billion DHSES budget that includes $10.4 million to strengthen emergency management, $15 million for emergency response equipment, and $8.6 million to combat fatal fires caused by lithium-ion batteries. She also announced $10 million in additional funding for Next Gen 911 transition and $85 million in capital funding for counties, addressing concerns raised by Sen. Stec about cellular service gaps in the Adirondacks. Sen. Stec presented survey data showing 67 percent of Adirondack residents own only cellphones and no landlines, with 70-80 percent of 911 calls originating from mobile devices. He characterized cellular coverage as a public safety imperative and noted fatalities due to service gaps. Commissioner Bray agreed the issue was critical and committed to the Next Gen 911 investments. CIO Rai discussed New York's first comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and the Joint Security Operation Center, which now covers New York City, five major upstate cities, and nearly every non-NYC county. He reported that endpoint protection will reach 96,000 endpoints across counties, with 70 percent of New Yorkers eventually living in areas where both local and county governments have state-provided protection. Sen. Gonzalez raised concerns about artificial intelligence bias and fairness, questioning how the state will identify and remediate algorithmic bias in new AI systems. She pressed for specifics on the Empire AI initiative—a $400 million commitment ($250 million state, $150 million private)—and its public benefits versus private sector gains. CIO Rai acknowledged that AI systems remain imperfect and said the state would work with agencies on a use-case-by-case basis. On corrections, Sen. Salazar questioned whether Residential Rehabilitation Units should emulate the discontinued Merle Cooper Program, which he described as successful for high-risk individuals. He also asked about procedural obstacles to disciplining officers for abusive behavior. Acting Commissioner Martuscello said he was exploring peer programming within RRUs but could not compare current efforts to the Merle Cooper model without more information. The hearing underscored legislative interest in emerging technology risks and rural infrastructure gaps as the state prepares its budget. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE EXAMINES 2024-2025 PUBLIC PROTECTION BUDGET The New York State Senate Finance Committee held a joint legislative hearing on January 25, 2024, to examine the 2024-2025 Executive Budget for public protection, with testimony focusing heavily on migrant services, emergency management, and cybersecurity initiatives. DHSES Commissioner Bray outlined a comprehensive spending plan totaling approximately $4.3 billion over four fiscal years for migrant-related services. The budget allocates $500 million in shelter funding (with additional funds proposed for FY25), $160 million for health services including Medicaid coverage, and $260 million for National Guard deployment. Currently, approximately 67,000 migrants are sheltered in New York City, with 2,000 sheltered outside the city. Over 170,000 migrants have presented in need of shelter over the past two years. Sen. O'Mara, the ranking Republican member, pressed Commissioner Bray on total taxpayer costs and public safety concerns, asking about criminal activity and panhandling around shelters. He also questioned what happens to migrants denied asylum. Commissioner Bray responded that asylum cases take 7-10 years to adjudicate and that most people leave voluntarily, calling for congressional action to expedite the process. The state has made progress on work authorization, with over 9,000 temporary protected-status applications completed for Venezuelans, though specific employment placement numbers were not immediately available. On emergency management, Commissioner Bray highlighted investments in the State Watch Center, which managed 21,000 incidents this year and triaged 230,000 pieces of information. The budget proposes 65 additional FTEs to increase field staff by 50 percent, double training capacity, add a geospatial team, and establish vulnerable communities outreach. Concerning lithium-ion battery fires, Commissioner Bray reported 267 fires in New York City this year—the highest on record—and 40 outside the city. The state has trained 2,850 first responders in battery fire suppression and proposes a $3.3 million competitive grant program for local fire departments. The budget also bans the sale of uncertified and reconstituted batteries. OITS CIO Rai testified on IT modernization efforts, noting that the long-delayed WMS (Welfare Management System) replacement project is scheduled to go live in 2027. He emphasized breaking large monolithic systems into modular pieces using agile methodology to reduce time and cost. All new state websites will meet accessibility standards for people with disabilities. Chairwoman Krueger expressed frustration with decades-long delays in IT system fixes, noting the WMS has been problematic since 1988. She also raised concerns about earthquake preparedness following recent seismic activity in the New York City area, asking Commissioner Bray to add earthquake preparedness to his agency's focus areas. A 12-year-old student from MACADEMY School of Science and Technology testified in support of the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act, citing concerns about social media algorithms' effects on children's developing brains and vulnerability to online predators. NEW YORK — Immigrant rights advocates, religious leaders, and criminal justice officials testified before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, urging lawmakers to reject significant cuts to legal services and increase funding for hate crimes prevention and criminal justice reform in the 2024-2025 state budget. The hearing, held as part of the Legislature's budget review process, revealed sharp disagreements over the Governor's public protection spending priorities. Advocates for immigrant services testified that Governor Hochul's proposed $44.2 million for immigration legal services represents a $20 million cut from the prior year's $63 million investment, at a time when 180,000 New Yorkers face deportation threats without legal representation. Multiple organizations — the New York Immigration Coalition, Immigrant ARC, and the Vera Institute of Justice — called for $150 million in total funding and passage of the Access to Representation Act, which would guarantee legal representation for immigrants facing deportation. Marking a significant shift in the hearing's focus, representatives from the UJA Federation, Orthodox Union Project Protect, and the New York State Council of Churches testified about hate crimes and criminal justice reform. Dr. Nava Greenfield of Project Protect cited NYPD data showing a 330 percent increase in hate crimes since October 7th, and noted that nonprofit organizations have experienced a 50 percent increase in security expenses, with 66 percent going to security personnel. Both Jewish organizations urged the Legislature to increase the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes initiative from the Governor's proposed $35 million to $100 million. In a pointed exchange, Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz noted that the increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes is "unprecedented" and "much higher than any other category," comparing the current climate to historical periods of persecution. He expressed support for increased funding, stating that current security measures are "not enough." Meanwhile, Reverend Jim Ketcham of the New York State Council of Churches offered a contrasting perspective, opposing the Governor's punitive criminal justice proposals and calling for restorative justice approaches. He highlighted that over 70 percent of New York State prison residents are people of color, characterizing this as evidence of systemic racism. Brian Crow, executive assistant district attorney for the New York County District Attorney's office, testified that while his office has increased referrals to problem-solving courts by 200 percent, current wait times for evaluations stretch to two months for incarcerated individuals. He requested at least $25 million in state funding for problem-solving courts and alternatives to incarceration. Susan Bryant of the New York State Defenders Association called for restoration of backup center funding at $2.1 million — more than double the Executive Budget's $1,030,000 proposal — and noted that the state's Veterans Defense Program has saved over $126 million in incarceration costs despite never receiving Executive Budget support. Sen. Jamaal Bailey, a former attorney, praised advocates for their work on language access and representation, while Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, sponsor of the Access to Representation Act, questioned whether the state was adequately prepared to welcome asylum-seekers. Chairwoman Liz Krueger emphasized the Legislature's commitment to addressing what she called "the poison of hatred" growing in the state through education and interfaith cooperation. The hearing underscored tensions within the budget process between competing priorities: immigrant legal services, hate crimes prevention, and criminal justice reform — all areas where advocates argue the Governor's budget falls short of meeting urgent needs. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARING ON 2024-2025 PUBLIC PROTECTION BUDGET — Civil legal services advocates and law enforcement representatives testified Thursday that New York's public safety workforce faces a recruitment and retention crisis driven by severe pay inequities and underfunding, urging lawmakers to reject a proposed $100 million sweep of legal services funds and increase compensation across multiple agencies. Tina Monshipour Foster, executive director of JustCause, told the committee that civil legal services organizations cannot compete with government agencies for attorneys. A new attorney in the New York State Attorney General's office earns $90,000 in New York City, compared to $69,000 at non-profit legal services organizations—a gap that widens to $134,000 annually after 10 years of service. "Without pay equity, our available workforce will continue to dwindle, and vulnerable New Yorkers will be left without vital services," Foster said. Kristin Brown, president and CEO of Empire Justice Center, opposed the Governor's proposed $100 million sweep of IOLA (Interest on Lawyers Trust Account) funds, which were established in 1983 specifically to fund civil legal assistance. Brown noted that the access-to-justice gap has been assessed at $1 billion and that her organization had 18 vacant positions out of 80 staff when adopting its 2024 budget. "Now is not the time to raid IOLA," she said. Law enforcement representatives painted a similarly dire picture. Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, reported that the NYPD is nearly 7,000 officers short of peak headcount—its lowest level in more than 30 years—and has lost 6,500 officers to resignation or retirement over the past two years. The NYPD currently has 33,612 uniformed members. Chris Summers, president of NYSCOPBA, opposed the Governor's proposed closure of up to five prisons, arguing it will worsen staffing shortages. He reported that correctional officers face unprecedented mandatory overtime, with some ordered to work up to 16 hours on scheduled days off. Tim Dymond, president of the New York State Police Investigators Association, warned of a "slow death of the law enforcement profession," noting that over 470 of his 1,150 members can retire this year, with another 200 eligible by 2026. He said that funded positions for Community Stabilization Units, Computer Crime Units, and $90 million allocated for organized retail theft positions remain unfilled. Ed Tase, president of the Firefighters Association of New York State, called for an increase to the Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers Income Tax Credit, which has remained at $200 for 18 years. He noted that volunteer firefighters save New York State $3.8 billion annually in tax savings and salaries. Chairwoman Liz Krueger expressed strong support for civil legal services, asking whether paralegals could take on expanded roles similar to healthcare professionals, and offering to brainstorm recruitment strategies with advocates. Senator Jamaal Bailey, a public-interest law school graduate, similarly pledged to work offline with legal services representatives on creative recruitment solutions. The hearing underscored a broader crisis: across legal services, corrections, state police, and volunteer fire services, agencies report they cannot recruit and retain qualified personnel due to pay disparities with other government agencies and the private sector. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HEARS COMPETING VISIONS ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE SPENDING Albany — The New York State Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee held a joint hearing Thursday on the 2024-2025 Executive Budget's public protection provisions, hearing sharply divergent testimony on prison policy, criminal justice reform, and funding priorities. Corrections officers' union representatives testified that the HALT Act—which restricts solitary confinement—has created dangerous conditions by diverting resources from general prison populations to restricted housing units. "My members are facing horrible injuries every day. They are getting stabbed, they're getting sliced, spit on. They are getting broken bones," said Mr. Summers, a union official, contradicting the acting commissioner's earlier assertion that assaults result in minimal injuries. Summers also warned that prison closures proposed in the Governor's budget would worsen staffing shortages, noting that 3,000 staff positions remain vacant—a 13 percent vacancy rate—while prisons operate at only 73 percent capacity with 12,000 empty beds. Criminal justice reform advocates pushed back against the Governor's budget proposals, arguing that New York should invest in rehabilitation and reentry rather than expanded criminalization. Thomas Gant, a formerly incarcerated community organizer, testified that over 30,000 people remain warehoused in New York prisons, with three out of four being Black or brown. He called for passage of the Communities Not Cages legislation package and criticized the Governor's $2 million allocation for transitional housing as insufficient, requesting $5-7 million instead. Advocates also sought increased funding for alternatives to incarceration. The Center for Justice Innovation requested $15 million for mental health courts—up from the $6 million in the Executive Budget—citing data showing that participants in the Center's Brooklyn Mental Health Court experience a 46 percent reduction in rearrest likelihood. Worth Rises advocated for $10 million to make phone calls free for incarcerated people, noting that families currently pay $21.5 million annually for calls, with 85 percent of costs borne by women. The New York State Dispute Resolution Association requested $3 million to support 20 community dispute resolution centers that served over 50,000 constituents and resolved 20,000 cases last year. The Correctional Association of New York requested $500,000 for prison monitoring and oversight, highlighting infrastructure needs such as broken windows at Auburn Correctional Facility that remain unfixed since 2019. Sen. Jamaal Bailey, a vocal supporter of criminal justice reform, expressed strong backing for free phone calls legislation, noting he is the Senate sponsor of related bills. The hearing underscored deep disagreements over whether New York's criminal justice budget should prioritize prison operations and officer safety or invest in rehabilitation, reentry, and alternatives to incarceration.