STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2785
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2009
___________
Introduced by Sens. ADAMS, KRUEGER, MONSERRATE, PARKER -- read twice and
ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to establishing a gener-
al equivalency program and a higher education program for inmates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 136-a
2 to read as follows:
3 § 136-a. General equivalency program and higher education of persons
4 in correctional facilities. 1. All inmates admitted to the department
5 serving a determinate term of imprisonment, or an indeterminate sentence
6 of imprisonment other than a sentence of life imprisonment without
7 parole, who have been evaluated upon admission pursuant to subdivision
8 one of section one hundred thirty-seven of this article and are deter-
9 mined to be capable of successfully completing the academic course work
10 required for a general equivalency diploma or college credit courses,
11 shall be provided with the opportunity to complete such course work.
12 Upon admission to the department, such inmates will be provided with
13 written notice that general equivalency programs and college credit
14 programs are available for all inmates who so apply.
15 2. The department shall ensure that academic education programs which
16 provide the appropriate curriculum and certified academic staff for
17 general equivalency and college credit instruction are available at all
18 correctional facilities housing inmates who are eligible. The department
19 shall provide academic staff who are qualified to provide such instruc-
20 tion and who are members of the competitive class of the civil service
21 of New York state. The department shall provide sufficient staff at each
22 correctional facility where eligible inmates are confined to ensure a
23 classroom ratio of twenty inmates for each instructor. The commissioner,
24 in cooperation with the commissioner of education, shall set up the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04984-01-9
S. 2785 2
1 educational requirements for the certification of teachers in all such
2 correctional facilities. The commissioner, in consultation with the
3 commissioner of education, shall develop a curricula and a plan for
4 implementation of the general equivalency and college credit programs
5 and shall issue a report within twelve months after the effective date
6 of this subdivision.
7 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
8 it shall have become a law.
