Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ARTHUR BARCLAY
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman PATRICIA EGAN JONES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
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. Pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), 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 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 “Service Dog Pilot Program” for inmates in Camden County and appropriates $150,000. Specifically, the bill establishes a three-year 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 are to 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, is to establish and administer the pilot program and provide a report to the Governor and Legislature upon completion of the program evaluating the program’s effectiveness. The report is also to recommend whether the pilot program should be expanded to other counties in this State.