Bill Text: NJ A4954 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires female inmates be provided with family planning services prior to release from correctional facility.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-11-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee [A4954 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4954-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Requires female inmates be provided with family planning services prior to release from correctional facility.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning female inmates and amending P.L.2009, c.329.
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] Except as provided in subsection m. of this section, 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 supply of prescription medication;
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; and
m. In the case of a female inmate, family planning services.
(cf: P.L.2020, c.45, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Corrections to provide family planning services to a female inmate at least ten days prior to her release from a State correctional facility.
The "Fair Release and Reentry Act of 2009," (P.L.2009, c.329; C.30:1B-6.1 et seq.) requires the Commissioner of Corrections to provide inmates, at least ten days before their release, with various documents, information, and other items. Examples of these items include a copy of the inmate's criminal history record and written information on expungement of criminal records, information on voting rights, a two week supply of prescription medication, and a medical discharge summary. This bill requires the commissioner to also provide female inmates with family planning services to aid in their successful reentry into the community.
