[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 374

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JOSEPH P. CRYAN

District 20 (Union)

Senator  JOSEPH F. VITALE

District 19 (Middlesex)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Diegnan

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires each county to establish inmate reentry services committee.  

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on January 27, 2020, with amendments.

 


An Act concerning reentry services for county jail inmates and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.  

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.   The governing body of each county in this State shall, by duly adopted ordinance or resolution, establish a public body entitled the “County Inmate Reentry Committee” inserting all or any significant part of the name of the county.  Each county committee shall consist of nine members as follows:  

     (1)   a member of the board of chosen freeholders 1selected by the board of chosen freeholders1 ;

     (2)   the warden or other executive head of the county correctional facility, or a designee;

     (3)   the president of a county 1[community]1 college 1serving that county1 , or a designee;

     (4)   the head of the county board of social services, or a designee;

     (5)   one public member who shall be a provider of reentry services in the county;

     (6)   one public member who shall be a provider of substance 1[abuse] use disorder treatment1 services in the county; and

     (7)   three public members who shall represent the general public.

     The public members shall be appointed by the board of chosen freeholders, or, in the counties operating under the county executive plan or county supervisor plan pursuant to the provisions of the "Optional County Charter Law," P.L.1972, c.154 (C.40:41A-1 et seq.), by the county executive, or the county supervisor, as appropriate, with the advice and consent of the board of chosen freeholders.   

     b.    Of the five public members first to be appointed, three shall be appointed for terms of two years, one for a term of three years, and one for a term of four years.  Thereafter, all appointments shall be made for terms of four years.  Each of these members shall hold office for the term of the appointment and until a successor has been appointed and qualified.  Any vacancy in the membership occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only. 

     c.     The board of chosen freeholders, county executive, or county supervisor, as appropriate, may appoint other advisory members to the committee as 1[they] the board, executive, or supervisor, as applicable,1 may deem appropriate. 

     d.    Members of the committee shall not receive compensation but the appointed members may, subject to the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for these purposes, be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in attending meetings of the committee and in performance of their duties as members of the committee. 

     e.     The committee shall meet as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members and shall elect a chair from among its members.  The chair shall serve for a term of one year and may be reelected.  The committee shall establish procedures for the conduct of regular and special meetings, provided that the regular meetings shall be held at least monthly.  Five members shall constitute a quorum.  All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the "Open Public Meetings Act," P.L.1975, c.231 (C.10:4-6 et seq.).    

     f.     The committee shall:

     (1)   identify those services available in the county that may be needed by inmates upon release from a county correctional facility, including but not limited to: housing, food, medical care, clothing, substance abuse treatment, mental health care, employment, and education;

     (2)   establish a health information exchange for sharing county inmate health data between the county correctional facility and appropriate medical, mental health, social service, and other providers;

     (3)   establish best practices for:

     1[(i)] (a)1  preparing county inmates for release;

     1[(ii)] (b)1  providing the services identified in paragraph (1) of this subsection; and

     1[(iii)] (c)1 continuing post–release services, support, and supervision for a minimum of one year; and

     (4)   make appropriate recommendations to the county and municipal governing bodies and boards with respect to resolutions, ordinances, and regulations needed to prepare county inmates for successful reentry into the community and reduce recidivism.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.