Bill Text: NJ S1593 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Service Dog Pilot Program for inmates in Camden County; appropriates $150,000.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-05 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S1593 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S1593-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Service Dog Pilot Program for inmates in Camden County; appropriates $150,000.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a Service Dog Pilot Program for inmates in Camden County and making an appropriation
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that service dogs improve the quality of life for veterans who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, or depression. Utilizing inmates to train service dogs provides inmates with the chance to give back to society in a meaningful way. In addition, incorporating the training of service dogs into reentry programs assists with the inmate's transition back into the community by teaching the inmate valuable skills. Establishing a "Service Dog Pilot Program" in Camden County will provide information regarding the effectiveness of the program and the feasibility of expanding the program to other counties in this State.
2. a. There is established a three-year "Service Dog Pilot Program" in Camden County for the purpose of utilizing inmates or former inmates as part of a reentry program to train service dogs. Upon completion of the training, the service dogs shall be placed with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, or depression. The Warden of the Camden County Correctional Facility, in consultation with the Commissioner of Corrections, shall be responsible for establishing and administering the pilot program. The warden shall determine which inmates and former inmates shall participate in the program.
b. The Warden of the Camden County Correctional Facility, in consultation with the Commissioner of Corrections, shall submit a report evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program to the Governor and, pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature upon completion of the program. The report shall recommend whether the pilot program should be expanded to other counties in this State.
3. There is appropriated $150,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Corrections to implement the provisions of this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the filing of the report required pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a three-year pilot program, the "Service Dog Pilot Program," for inmates in Camden County. This program utilizes inmates, and former inmates, as part of a reentry program to train service dogs. The bill also appropriates $150,000 to the Department of Correction to fund the pilot program.
Upon completion of the training, the service dogs will be placed with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, or depression.
The Warden of the Camden County Correctional Facility, in consultation with the Commissioner of Corrections, will establish and administer the pilot program and provide a report to the Governor and Legislature upon completion. This report will evaluate the program's effectiveness, as well as make a recommendation as to whether the pilot program should be expanded to other counties in the State.
