SENATE, No. 698

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 15, 1996

By Senator EWING

An Act creating an Assistant Commissioner position in the Department of Corrections 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 Assistant Commissioner of Education to be headed by [a Director of Educational Services] an Assistant Commissioner of Education 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 offered by institutions licensed by the Department of Education or the Commission on Higher Education.

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

    2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.

STATEMENT

    The Office of Education in the Department of Corrections provides education and training opportunities for incarcerated adults. This helps individuals to become productive citizens rather than repeat criminals. As a result, their threat to the public's safety is greatly diminished, and major savings in tax dollars are also realized.

    The Office of Education has been operating in a productive and efficient way and provides effective programs. In order to make the Office of Education a more viable and credible part of the Department of Corrections, this bill upgrades the Office of Education to the Office of Assistant Commissioner of Education. This would give the office the type of status and support needed for its efforts. It would also convey that New Jersey gives priority to providing incarcerated individuals with the opportunities to reform themselves and become productive members of society upon their release.

Establishes Office of Assistant Commissioner of Education in Department of Corrections.