Bill Text: NJ A4530 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Concerns random drug testing of certain inmates.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-06-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [A4530 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A4530-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman L. GRACE SPENCER
District 29 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns random drug testing of certain inmates.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning random drug testing of certain inmates and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. For the purposes of this act, "residential community release program" shall mean an assessment and treatment center, halfway house, or substance use disorder treatment program operating under the authority of the Department of Corrections, or any non-profit or for-profit subcontractor of a treatment center, halfway house, or program that operates a residential community release program under the authority of the department.
b. The Commissioner of Corrections shall oversee random drug testing of all State inmates in residential community release programs.
c. The commissioner may, at the request of the county, oversee random drug testing of county inmates in residential community release programs.
d. The commissioner shall supply all drug testing kits used to detect drug use by inmates in residential community release programs pursuant to subsections c. and d. of this section.
(1) Every drug test shall be administered by an employee of the Department of Corrections.
(2) A drug test shall screen for the use of a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog as defined in N.J.S.2C:35-2.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections to conduct random drug testing of all State inmates in residential community release programs. The bill also authorizes the commissioner to oversee this testing for county inmates in these programs at the request of the county.
As defined in the bill, a "residential community release program" includes assessment and treatment centers, halfway houses, and substance use disorder treatment programs operating under the authority of the Department of Corrections (DOC). It also includes any non-profit or for-profit subcontractor that operates a residential community release program under the authority of the department.
The bill also specifically requires the commissioner to supply drug testing kits and directs DOC employees to administer the tests. Under the bill, a drug test is required to screen for all controlled dangerous substances or controlled substance analogs.
According to the sponsor, this bill is in response to the continuing problem of drug abuse by inmates in halfway houses in this State, such as Bo Robinson. Under the bill, random drug testing of all State inmates housed at halfway houses, and county inmates in counties which choose to participate, would be directly administered by DOC employees rather than employees of the operator of the halfway house. The bill also requires drug tests to screen for all controlled dangerous substances in response to the increased use by inmates of designer drugs, such synthetic marijuana, which may go undetected under current drug testing technologies.
