Bill Text: CA AB494 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Prisoners: literacy and education.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2013-10-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 784, Statutes of 2013. [AB494 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB494-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 494	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  784
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 13, 2013
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 13, 2013
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 3, 2013
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 6, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 21, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 7, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 1, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member V. Manuel P�rez

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2013

   An act to amend Section 2053.1 of the Penal Code, relating to
prisoners.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 494, V. Manuel P�rez. Prisoners: literacy and education.
    Existing law requires the Secretary of the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation to implement in every state prison
literacy programs that are designed to ensure that, upon parole,
inmates are able to achieve a 9th grade reading level. Existing law
further requires the department to prepare an implementation plan for
the literacy programs and to request sufficient funds to make the
programs available to a certain percentage of inmates by specified
dates.
   This bill would instead require the department to implement
literacy programs that are designed to ensure that upon parole
inmates are able to achieve the goals specified in this bill. This
bill would require the department to prepare an implementation plan
and request sufficient funds to, among other things, offer academic
programming throughout an inmate's incarceration that focuses on
increasing the reading ability of an inmate to at least a 9th grade
level and, for an inmate reading at a 9th grade level or higher,
focus on helping the inmate obtain a general education development
certificate, or its equivalent, or high school diploma. This bill
would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these
provisions.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (a) In 2012, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
released its plan, "The Future of California Corrections: A Blueprint
to Save Billions of Dollars, End Federal Oversight, and Improve the
Prison System."
   (b) The plan states that its mission is to improve access to
rehabilitation programs, which includes access to academic programs,
including literacy programs. The goal, according to the plan, is to
place 70 percent of the department's target population in programs
consistent with the academic and rehabilitative needs of the prison
population. The plan states that increasing access to rehabilitative
programs will reduce recidivism by better preparing inmates to be
productive members of society. In doing so, the plan will help lower
the long-term prison population and save the state money.
   (c) Senate Bill 949 of the 1989-90 Regular Session (Chapter 989 of
the Statutes of 1989), regarding literacy standards in the state
prison system, is in conflict with the plan that is now in place by
the department. It is the intent of the Legislature to bring the
statute in line with the department's new policy.
  SEC. 2.  Section 2053.1 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
   2053.1.  (a) The Secretary of the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation shall implement in every state prison literacy
programs that are designed to ensure that upon parole inmates are
able to achieve the goals contained in this section. The department
shall prepare an implementation plan for this program, and shall
request the necessary funds to implement this program as follows:
   (1) The department shall offer academic programming throughout an
inmate's incarceration that shall focus on increasing the reading
ability of an inmate to at least a 9th grade level.
   (2) For an inmate reading at a 9th grade level or higher, the
department shall focus on helping the inmate obtain a general
education development certificate or its equivalent or high school
diploma.
   (3) The department shall offer college programs through voluntary
education programs or equivalent programs.
   (4) While the department shall offer education to target
populations, priority shall be given to those with a criminogenic
need for education, those who have a need based on their educational
achievement level, or other factors as determined by the department.
   (b) In complying with the requirements of this section, the
department shall give strong consideration to computer-assisted
training and other innovations that have proven to be effective in
reducing illiteracy among disadvantaged adults.