Nearly 36 days after its due date, Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Lake George) voted against a budget bill that proposed changes to public protection policies affecting correctional officers and facilities. The bill, known as A.3005, did not include significant reforms to enhance the safety of officers and staff. Instead, it proposed lowering the minimum age for appointment by the commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) from 21 to 18 years old. However, individuals under 21 would be restricted from using safety tools or transporting incarcerated individuals.
The bill also allowed the governor to close up to three correctional facilities this year with only a 90-day notice before any closure, contributing to what some see as a weakening of the state’s correctional system.
Assemblyman Simpson expressed his concerns: “Our correctional officers are already working in unsafe and unstable work environments,” he stated. “This budget fails to offer the support and protection they deserve in order to do their jobs effectively. We trust 18-year-olds in the military to carry firearms and protect our country, yet Albany Majority lawmakers deny young correctional officers basic safety equipment and responsibilities.”
Simpson further criticized the provision granting the governor authority over facility closures amid existing staffing shortages: “On top of the staffing shortage, the governor has the unchecked authority to close additional facilities, creating more uncertainty for staff and the communities that rely on these jobs,” he said. “In good conscience, I cannot vote in favor of a bill that fails our men and women in uniform.”
