SENATE DEMOCRATS PUSH DRUG LAW REFORM MEASURE

ALBANY - A $10 million Senate Democratic proposal released Thursday
would provide convicted drug offenders and dealers shorter sentences
and more rehabilitation, help to land a job, and the power to vote
again, under the latest attempt to reform the state's Rockefeller-era
drug laws.

Under the Democrats' proposal, judges could use a defendant's criminal
history to ease a sentence to probation and provide "retroactive
sentencing" that could free drug offenders now in prison.

The bill would also create county "re-entry" programs with educational
programs, drug and alcohol abuse treatment, help in getting housing,
job training and mental health services.

"We'll look at their plan and we're planning on doing our own reform
bill," said Mark Hansen, spokesman for Republican Senate Majority
Leader Joseph Bruno.