Requires all incarcerated individuals who do not have a high-school diploma or its equivalent to receive a reading proficiency-level assessment and dyslexia screening upon intake; and requires for such individuals who perform below a certain proficiency level to be provided with dyslexia intervention that is evidence-based effective and consistent with science-based research specifically tailored to addressing dyslexia.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6787
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
October 21, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. MYRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to a reading proficiency
level assessment and dyslexia screening for incarcerated individuals
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 137-a
2 to read as follows:
3 § 137-a. Reading proficiency level assessment and dyslexia screening.
4 1. As part of the intake process, an incarcerated individual who does
5 not have a high school diploma or its equivalent shall receive a reading
6 proficiency level assessment and dyslexia screening. If an incarcerated
7 individual demonstrates that he or she is below the proficiency level
8 required to be a high-functioning reader, such individual shall be
9 provided with dyslexia intervention that is evidence-based, effective,
10 and consistent with science-based research specifically tailored to
11 addressing dyslexia.
12 2. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of educa-
13 tion, shall promulgate rules and regulations that require, but are not
14 limited to the following:
15 (a) Teachers at all correctional facilities shall have and demonstrate
16 awareness of the best practices of scientific reading instruction;
17 (b) Each inmate who does not have a high school diploma or its equiv-
18 alent shall receive a reading proficiency level assessment and a dysle-
19 xia screening; and
20 (c) A process be established in which incarcerated individuals, upon
21 intake, are assessed and administered a dyslexia screening, and provided
22 with dyslexia intervention that is evidence-based, effective, and
23 consistent with science-based research specifically tailored to address-
24 ing dyslexia.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11644-03-9
S. 6787 2
1 3. Each superintendent shall submit a plan to the department that
2 allows incarcerated individuals to voluntarily receive a reading profi-
3 ciency level assessment, dyslexia screening, and reading instruction
4 that is evidence-based, effective, and consistent with science-based
5 research specifically tailored to addressing dyslexia.
6 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
7 have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or
8 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
9 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
10 on or before such date.
