Tuesday at the polls, people will decide on a proposed amendment...

New York State is looking to allow inmates to work for not-for-profit organizations.

As Action News Reporter Julianne Sweeney tells us, a "yes" vote would change wording of the law, but not practice.

On Tuesday's ballot, voters will be asked to decide on a proposed change to the New York State Constitution.

The amendment seeks to clarify current language that states inmates are allowed to work only for municipalities.

If passed, the amendment would legally permit non-for-profits the use of inmate services.

"It allows us to maybe pay back somebody in the community, more than just picking up garbage." said Broome County Sargent Dawn Shafer.

Broome County Sheriff David Harder says inmates are already helping non-for-profits.

The Sheriff's Office typically assigns inmates to work crews at cemeteries, libraries, and parks and playgrounds.

"The Sheriff's Office says the program saved Broome County more than $400-thousand in services last year. If inmates work at non-profits, there would be an even greater savings."

"Instead of having to pay somebody to do these particular jobs, we have the inmates here for free." said Broome County Sheriff David Harder.

Harder supports letting inmates work for non-for-profits, and the Sheriff's Office encourages people to pass the amendment.

"I'm anxious to have this voted in, so that we can broaden what we can do for the community." said Shafer.

The Sheriff's Office says the program's designed for the inmates give back to the community, in which they violated the law.

The constitutional amendment goes back to at least 1898.

Sheriff Harder says it was probably intended to prohibit selling the labor of inmates to contractors or private parties.