Bill Text: NJ S2331 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Assists inmates released from incarceration in obtaining necessary reentry benefits.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2020-07-01 - Approved P.L.2020, c.45. [S2331 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-S2331-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Senator SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman ELIANA PINTOR MARIN
District 29 (Essex)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Holley, Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson, Senators Pou and Ruiz
SYNOPSIS
Assists inmates released from incarceration in obtaining necessary reentry benefits.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As amended on June 15, 2020 by the General Assembly pursuant to the Governor's recommendations.
An Act concerning inmate reentry, amending P.L.2009, c.329, and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 2 of P.L.2009, c.329 (C.30:1B-6.2) is amended to read as follows:
2. The Commissioner of Corrections shall provide to each inmate at least [ten] 1[30] 101 days prior to release from a State correctional facility:
a. A copy of the inmate's criminal history record and written information on the inmate's right to have his criminal records expunged under chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes;
b. General written information on the inmate's right to vote under R.S.19:4-1;
c. General written information on the availability of programs, including faith-based and secular programs, that would assist in removing barriers to the inmate's employment or participation in vocational or educational rehabilitative programs, including but not limited to information concerning the "Rehabilitated Convicted Offenders Act," P.L.1968, c.282 (C.2A:168A-1 et seq.) and the certificate of rehabilitation under P.L.2007, c.327 (C.2A:168A-7 et seq.);
d. A detailed written record of the inmate's participation in educational, training, employment, and medical or other treatment programs while the inmate was incarcerated;
e. A written accounting of the fines, assessments, surcharges, restitution, penalties, child support arrearages, and any other obligations due and payable by the inmate upon release;
f. [A non-driver identification card, which shall be issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and for which the Motor Vehicle Commission shall accept a former inmate's Department of Corrections identification card to have a two-point value in applying for the non-driver identification card;] Deleted by amendment, P.L. c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
g. A copy of the inmate's birth certificate if the inmate was born in New Jersey;
h. Assistance in obtaining a Social Security card;
i. A one-day New Jersey bus or rail pass;
j. A [two-week] 1[three-month] two-week1 supply of prescription medication;
k. General written information concerning child support, including child support payments owed by the inmate, information on how to seek child support payments and information on where to seek services regarding child support, child custody, and establishing parentage; and
l. (1) A medical discharge summary, which shall include instructions on how to obtain from the commissioner a copy of the inmate's full medical record. Upon request from the inmate, the commissioner shall provide a copy of the inmate's full medical record in a safe and secure manner, at no charge to the inmate.
(2) Within 90 days of the effective date of this act, the commissioner, in consultation with the State Board of Medical Examiners, shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to ensure that these records are expeditiously and securely provided, in a manner consistent with the provision of medical records by other providers.
(cf: P.L.2011, c.191, s.1)
2. (New section) The Commissioner of Corrections shall provide a non-driver identification card 1issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission1 to each inmate, free of charge, as soon as practicable, but not less than 1[45] 101 days prior to the inmate's release from a State correctional facility. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue the identification card and accept a former inmate's Department of Corrections identification card as two points for the purposes of applying for the identification card. Whenever the 1[Governor orders]1 Motor Vehicle Commission agencies 1[to close] are closed1 during a declared public health emergency, pursuant to the "Emergency Health Powers Act," P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.), a state of emergency, pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A.9-33 et seq.), or both, the 1[Commissioner of Corrections shall directly issue these identification cards to inmates] inmate's Department of Corrections identification card shall be accepted by all State, county, and municipal agencies and New Jersey nonprofits in a manner as to allow the releasee to gain access to services for which they are deemed eligible for the duration of the public health emergency1.
1[3. (New section) a. The chief executive officer, warden, or keeper of each county correctional facility shall provide to each inmate at least 30 days prior to release from a county correctional facility:
(1) a copy of the inmate's criminal history record and written information on the inmate's right to have his criminal records expunged under chapter 52 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes;
(2) general written information on the inmate's right to vote under R.S.19:4-1;
(3) general written information on the availability of programs, including faith-based and secular programs, that would assist in removing barriers to the inmate's employment or participation in vocational or educational rehabilitative programs, including but not limited to information concerning the "Rehabilitated Convicted Offenders Act," P.L.1968, c.282 (C.2A:168A-1 et seq.) and the certificate of rehabilitation under P.L.2007, c.327 (C.2A:168A-7 et seq.);
(4) a detailed written record of the inmate's participation in educational, training, employment, and medical or other treatment programs while the inmate was incarcerated;
(5) a written accounting of the fines, assessments, surcharges, restitution, penalties, child support arrearages, and any other obligations due and payable by the inmate upon release;
(6) a copy of the inmate's birth certificate if the inmate was born in New Jersey;
(7) assistance in obtaining a Social Security card;
(8) a one-day New Jersey bus or rail pass;
(9) a three-month supply of prescription medication;
(10) general written information concerning child support, including child support payments owed by the inmate, information on how to seek child support payments and information on where to seek services regarding child support, child custody, and establishing parentage; and
(11) a medical discharge summary, which shall include instructions on how to obtain from the superintendent a copy of the inmate's full medical record; upon request from the inmate, the superintendent shall provide a copy of the inmate's full medical record in a safe and secure manner, at no charge to the inmate; the superintendent shall comply with rules and regulations, adopted pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), that ensure that these records are expeditiously and securely provided i
n a manner consistent with the provision of medical records by other providers.
b. If an inmate is at any time scheduled for release from a county correctional facility in less than 30 days, the superintendent shall comply with the provisions of subsection a. of this section at least 48 hours prior to the inmate's release.]1
13. (New section) Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, during the Public Health Emergency or State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020, in addition to the two-week supply of medication provided to an inmate prior to release from a State correctional facility pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2009, c.329 (C.30:1B-6.2), and to the extent consistent with clinical guidelines, an inmate shall be given an additional 30 day prescription order and two additional refills.1
1[4. (New section) a. The chief executive officer, warden, or keeper of each county correctional facility shall provide to each county inmate, free of charge, a non-driver identification card as soon as practicable, but at least 30 days prior to the inmate's release from that facility. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue the identification card and accept a former inmate's county corrections identification card as two points for the purposes of applying for the identification card. Whenever the Governor orders Motor Vehicle Commission agencies to close during a public health emergency pursuant to the "Emergency Health Powers Act," P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.), a state of emergency pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A.9-33 et seq.), or both, the superintendent of the facility shall directly issue these identification cards to inmates.
b. If an inmate is at any time scheduled for release from a county correctional facility in less than 30 days, the superintendent shall issue the non-driver identification card required pursuant to subsection a. of this section at least 48 hours prior to the inmate's release.]1
1[5] 4.1 (New section) 1a.1 The Commissioner of Corrections shall 1[complete and forward] ensure that an inmate is assisted with completing and forwarding1 for processing to the 1[appropriate county welfare agency or board of social services] Department of Human Services1 as soon as practicable but not less than 1[45] 301 days prior to an inmate's release from incarceration 1[applications] , an online application1 for enrollment in 1[applicable social service programs, including but not limited to: a.] the Medicaid program, established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.).
b. In addition to the requirements of subsection a. of this section, the Commissioner of Corrections shall also ensure that the inmate is assisted in completing and forwarding for processing to the appropriate county welfare agency or board of social services, as soon as practicable but not less than 30 days prior to an inmate's release from incarceration, online applications for enrollment in the following programs:
(1)1 the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.88-525 (7 U.S.C.s.2011 et seq.)1[.]1;
1[b.] and
(2)1 the Work First New Jersey program, established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.), which shall include 1, for inmates who are unable to identify a residence at the time of release,1 the application for emergency assistance benefits issued to Work First New Jersey recipients pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1997, c.14 (C.44:10-51)1[; and].1
c. 1[the Medicaid program, established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.)] The Department of Human Services shall be required to accept and process the online applications for Medicaid received from the Department of Corrections pursuant to subsection a. of this section1.
1[6. (New section) a. The chief executive officer, warden, or keeper of each county correctional facility shall complete and forward for processing to the appropriate county welfare agency or board of social services as soon as practicable but not less than 30 days prior to an inmate's release from incarceration applications for enrollment in applicable social service programs, including but not limited to:
(1) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.88-525 (7 U.S.C.s.2011 et seq.).;
(2) the Work First New Jersey program, established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.); and
(3) the Medicaid program, established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.).
b. If an inmate is at any time scheduled for release from a county correctional facility in less than 30 days, the superintendent shall comply with the provisions of subsection a. of this section at least 48 hours prior to the inmate's release.]1
1[7.] 5.1 (New section) The Commissioner of Corrections shall provide to the appropriate county welfare agency or board of social services, in advance of an inmate's release, the inmate's name, release date, and contact information, which shall include, but not be limited to, a telephone number or an email address.
1[8. (New section) The chief executive officer, warden, or keeper of each county correctional facility shall provide to the appropriate county welfare agency or board of social services, in advance of an inmate's release, the inmate's name, release date, and contact information, which shall include, but not be limited to, a telephone number or an email address.]1
1[9.] 6.1 This act shall take effect immediately.
