SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 262

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 7, 1996

      The Senate Human Services Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 262.

      This bill directs the Department of Corrections to conduct a study of the treatment and services provided to the inmates of the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center (ADTC) before entering into any contract which would result in a private entity providing that treatment and those services.

      Under the provisions of the bill, the department is to hire a qualified consultant to undertake a study of the treatment and services that are provided at the center and to submit recommendations concerning the treatment and services which should be provided and the most effective and efficient methods of privatizing that treatment and those services. The bill also permits the department to request, as part of those recommendations, a list of private entities the consultant deems qualified to provide treatment and services at the center.

      The bill defines a qualified consultant as a person who, by training or experience, is a recognized professional specializing in the psychological or psychiatric treatment and care of sex offenders or in the administration of such treatment and care in institutional settings.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996-97 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review which has been performed.