SENATE, No. 1753

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 19, 1996

 

 

By Senator PALAIA

 

 

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. Success 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.

    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.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill amends section 12 of P.L.1979, c.207 (C.18A:7B-8) to require the Director of Educational Services of the Office of Education in the Department of Corrections to establish compulsory remedial reading programs for school age inmates who are reading below grade age level. The bill also specifies that inmates who successfully complete remedial reading programs are to be given commutation time for good behavior or work credits.

    Currently, the director is only required to establish primary, secondary and vocational programs to meet the educational needs of school age inmates. There is no statutory obligation to establish any specialized remedial programs.

    The bill authorizes the director to establish criteria and procedures for determining an inmate's success in the remedial reading program. The criteria and procedures, which are to be based on an inmate's individual needs and capabilities, are to be routinely reviewed by the Department of Education.

 

 

 

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