Republican state lawmakers call for public safety legislation in budget
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--As the extended deadline is just a day away, state budget negotiations continue to take place. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie provided an update Tuesday afternoon.
"The train is going in the right direction, but maybe we are riding on the local track and not the express track," said Heastie.
Before the budget train makes it to its destination, Republican lawmakers on Wednesday called for public safety legislation to be included. For years, state Republicans have criticized bail reform and want to see it reversed, especially after the recent death of an NYPD officer.
Last year, the governor and legislature removed the least restrictive means standard to give judges more discretion, but Republicans want more.
"The change I’m hoping to make with this legislation is to allow judges to consider prior history," explained Assemblymember Michael Reilly.
Assembly Minority Leader, Will Barclay, spoke about it at a press conference.
"When they say a judge can’t take the dangerousness into the community— they can’t take that into affect," said Barclay. "They say why that’s crazy every other state does it, why not New York. So we can tinker with it obviously we would like to see substantial changes, but anything is better than nothing in my opinion."
They also want to include legislation that would make certain offenses against first responders hate crimes, as well as parole reform.
The final state budget is due April 4.