Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Expands scope of inmate reentry assistance and benefits.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning services for certain inmates and amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law.
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 10 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. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2020, c.45)
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] three-month supply of prescription medication and to the extent consistent with clinical guidelines, an additional 30 day prescription order and two additional refills;
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.
m. A benefits card approved for the purpose of obtaining benefits under the:
(1) Medicaid program, established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.);
(2) 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.); and
(3) Work First New Jersey program, established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.), which shall include, for inmates who are unable to identify a residence at the time of release, emergency assistance benefits issued to Work First New Jersey recipients pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1997, c.14 (C.44:10-51).
(cf: P.L.2020, c.45, s.1)
2. Section 2 of P.L.2020, c.45 (C.30:1B-6.15) is amended to read as follows:
2. a. The Commissioner of Corrections shall provide a non-driver identification card issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to each inmate, free of charge, as soon as practicable, but not less than 10 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.
b. An inmate s Department of Corrections identification card shall be accepted by all State, county, and municipal agencies and New Jersey nonprofit organizations for six months following the date of release from incarceration to allow the released inmate to gain access to services for which the inmate is deemed eligible including, but not limited to, establishing the inmate s identity.
[Whenever the] c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of this section, whenever Motor Vehicle Commission agencies are closed 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 inmate's Department of Corrections identification card shall be accepted by all State, county, and municipal agencies and New Jersey [nonprofits] nonprofit organizations in a manner as to allow the [releasee] released inmate to gain access to services for which [they are] the inmate is deemed eligible for the duration of the public health emergency.
(cf: P.L.2020, c.45, s.2)
3. Section 4 of P.L.2020, c.45 (C.30:1B-6.16) is amended to read as follows:
4. a. The Commissioner of Corrections shall ensure that an inmate is assisted with compl