[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 379

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

 

 

By Assemblyman T. SMITH

 

 

An Act concerning remedial reading programs for certain inmates and amending P.L.1979, c.207.

 

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

 

    1. Section 12 of P.L.1979, c.207 (C.18A:7B-8) is amended to read as follows:

    12. There is hereby created and established in the Department of Corrections an Office of Education to be headed by a Director of Educational Services who shall supervise the educational programs in all State facilities operated by that department and shall approve all personnel to be hired for such programs.

    The director shall hold the appropriate certificate issued by the State Board of Examiners and shall be qualified by training and experience for his position and shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Corrections. He shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner and shall receive such salary as shall be fixed by the commissioner.

    The director shall establish primary, secondary, and vocational programs which meet the educational needs of school age persons for whom the department is responsible. The department shall also establish compulsory remedial reading programs for school age persons who are reading below grade age level. Appropriate credit and certification shall be given for the successful completion of such programs. 1Success shall be determined on an individual basis, using criteria and procedures established by the director. These criteria and procedures shall be based minimally upon an inmate's demonstrated needs, current performance levels, grade expectancy levels and projected length-of-stay and shall be subject to routine review by the State Department of Education.1

    Within any available appropriation, the program of education shall include adult, post-secondary and college programs offered by institutions licensed by the Department of Education or the Commission on Higher Education.

    Commutation time for good behavior or work credits shall be given for the successful completion of the remedial reading program by those inmates who were deficient in reading skills.

(cf: P.L.1994, c.48, s.56)

 

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

 

Requires the Department of Corrections to establish remedial reading programs for school age inmates.