The bill, identified as Substitute House Bill No. 5127 with File No. 123, mandates the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division within the Office of Policy and Management, in collaboration with the Department of Correction, to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment for the delivery of postsecondary education programs in correctional facilities. This assessment is to include feedback from higher education institutions, analysis of current Department of Correction policies, determination of unmet demand for such education among incarcerated individuals, inventory of available facilities and resources, recommendations for improvements, cost analysis, surveys of current and former students, and identification of any other barriers to effective program delivery.

The bill stipulates that by January 1, 2025, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management must report the findings of the needs assessment to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly that oversees matters related to higher education and employment advancement. The bill is set to be effective from July 1, 2024, and introduces a new section to the law. The fiscal impact statement indicates a one-time cost of $143,800 to the Office of Policy and Management in the fiscal year 2025 for a Durational Project Manager to complete the assessment and report. There is no anticipated municipal impact or ongoing costs beyond the fiscal year 2025.