Bill Text: NJ S771 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires DCA to establish standards for prisoner reentry transitional housing.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-12-05 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [S771 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2022-S771-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 771

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2022 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  NELLIE POU

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Senator  SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires DCA to establish standards for prisoner reentry transitional housing.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act concerning prisoner reentry transitional housing and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    The Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Commissioner of Corrections, shall promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), that establish standards for prisoner reentry transitional housing supported by public funds.  The regulations shall establish standards for the following:

     a.     ensuring the physical safety of the residents;

     b.    providing emergency and longer-term housing;

     c.     counseling and support services to assist residents successfully transition back into the community, including substance abuse treatment, medical services, independent living skills training, education, career development, family services, and recreation;

     d.    personalized care management, including targeted care for residents who served long terms of incarceration; and

     e.     assisting residents obtain permanent housing.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would require the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Commissioner of Corrections, to promulgate regulations establishing standards for publicly-supported transitional housing for former prisoners who are reentering the community.  The standards are based on core features of the Fortune Academy, a model prisoner reentry transitional housing program in New York City.  The regulations would help former prisoners successfully transition and reintegrate back into their communities.

     The regulations would have to include standards for the following:

     (1)   ensuring the physical safety of the residents;

     (2)   providing emergency and longer-term housing;

     (3)   counseling and support services to assist residents successfully transition back into the community, including substance abuse treatment, medical services, independent living skills training, education, career development, family services, and recreation;

     (4)   personalized care management, including targeted care for residents who served long terms of incarceration; and

(5)        assisting residents obtain permanent housing.