Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman L. GRACE SPENCER
District 29 (Essex and Union)
Assemblyman JON M. BRAMNICK
District 21 (Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Requires inmates be provided with comprehensive medical discharge summary before release.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning information provided to inmates before release 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 Commissioner of Corrections shall provide to each inmate at least ten 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. A non-driver identification card, which shall be issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and for which the Motor Vehicle Commission shall accept a former inmate's Department of Corrections identification card to have a two-point value in applying for the non-driver identification card;
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. A [copy of the inmate's full medical record] comprehensive medical discharge summary at no charge to the inmate made available to the inmate in a safe and secure manner.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.329, s.2)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Commissioner of Corrections to provide to an inmate who is being released with a comprehensive medical discharge summary.
Under current law, the commissioner is required to provide inmates, within 10 days of release, their full medical record, free of charge and in a safe and secure manner. The requirement of a full medical record would be replaced under the bill by a comprehensive medical discharge summary. The bill will result in a more efficient and streamlined process of delivering the medical information necessary for inmates to successfully reenter society.