With a full legislative agenda, many Sheriffs from around the state traveled to Albany in March 9 to lobby the senate and legislature ahead of the adoption of the state budget.
About 20 Sheriffs met with Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Richard White and a number of senators and assemblymen from both sides of the aisle, including:
- Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan
- Senator John DeFrancisco
- Senator Fred Akshar
- Senator Patrick Gallivan
- Assemblyman David Weprin,Chair of the Assembly Corrections Committee
- Assemblyman Joseph Lentol
- Assembyman Anthony Brindisi
On their agenda were a number of initiatives of importance to Sheriffs, including:
- Bail Reform Opposition
- Elimination of State Reimbursement for Sherifs’ Personnel
- Expenses for Transporting State-Ready Inmates
- Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
- Jail-Based Restoration of Persons not Mentally Fit to Stand Trial
- Legalization of Recreational Marijuana
- Calculation of Interest Rates on Court Judgements
- State Funding for Substance Abuse Treatment Services in Jails, and
- Funding for School Resource Officers.
Thanks to the Sheriffs who took the time to participate in Lobby Day, and to Associate Counsel Alex Wilson for his work putting the day together.
By NYSSA
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