ASSEMBLY, No. 380

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

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. Appropriate credit and certification shall be given for the successful completion of such programs.

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

    Communtation time for good behavior or work credits shall be given for the successful completion of the remedial reading program to persons who were deficient in reading skills.

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

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill would require the director of the Office of Education in the Department of Corrections to establish remedial reading programs for adult inmates. The bill would also require the department to grant commutation time for good behavior or work credits for the successful completion of the program to persons who were deficient in reading skills.

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