STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns vocational training for certain inmates.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning inmates and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Corrections, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, shall establish a program to share data between the departments concerning the occupational interests and needs of inmates in State correctional facilities. Under the program, the availability of vocational training for inmates in State correctional facilities shall be increased based upon this data.
There shall be annually appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Corrections and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development an amount necessary to pay the reasonable and necessary expenses of the operation of this program.
b. The Commissioner of Corrections shall form a partnership with the United States Department of Labor to create an apprenticeship program to provide job training to inmates in State correctional facilities. The commissioner shall establish eligibility standards for an inmate who completes the training and work requirements to receive a Certificate of Completion from the United States Department of Labor.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the tenth month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, to establish a program to share data between the departments on the occupational interests and needs of inmates in State correctional facilities. Under the program, the availability of vocational training for inmates is to be increased based upon this data.
The bill provides that there is to be annually appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Corrections and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development an amount necessary to pay the reasonable and necessary expenses of the operation of this program.
In addition, under the bill, the Commissioner of Corrections is required to form a partnership with the United States Department of Labor to create an apprenticeship program to provide job training to inmates in State correctional facilities. Finally, the bill requires the commissioner to establish eligibility standards for an inmate who completes the training and work requirements to receive a Certificate of Completion from the United States Department of Labor.
This bill is based upon recommendations contained in the report released by the New Jersey Reentry Services Commission entitled "Barriers, Best Practice, and Action Items for Improving Reentry Services." According to the sponsor, based upon information contained in the report, the Department of Corrections in Indiana has formed a partnership with the United States Department of Labor to create an apprenticeship program that provides on-the-job training through facility-based or Indiana correctional industries-based programs. The United States Department of Labor provides a Certificate of Completion to individuals who complete the training and work requirements.