A5318

An Act concerning inmates, amending P.L.2009, c.330 and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. (New section) The Legislature finds and declares that: a. Industry and scholarly research has demonstrated that immersive simulation-based training improves retention of workforce life skills and may assist individuals preparing for community reentry. b. The World Health Organization has identified core components of life skills that are amenable to different teaching formats. c. Global market research conducted on behalf of global corporations, financial institutions, and described as “the largest study of virtual reality’s effectiveness for soft-skills training,” found that learners completed training four times faster than in classrooms, were four times more focused, and were up to 275% more confident in applying their new skills.

d. In addition to industrial uses, this technology can aid returning citizens in readjusting to life outside of incarceration settings.

2. (New section) The Commissioner of Corrections, in consultation with the Department of Labor, two-year and four-year colleges within this State; and local workforce development boards; shall establish a mandatory virtual reality life skills simulator program in each State correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections to supplement life skills and workforce training available to inmates through the department.

a. The requirement of participating in the virtual reality life skills simulator program shall apply to any inmate who:

(1) is in the custody of the Department of Corrections on or after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);

(2) has 24 months or more remaining to be served before a mandatory release date;

(3) is not exempted due to a medical, developmental, learning disability, other health reason, or, due to completion of life skills training in an alternate format.

b. The virtual reality life skills training program may be deferred for an inmate who is serving a sentence exceeding 10 years, or who has, during the current period of incarceration, participated in inmate life skills training in an alternate format.

c. The virtual reality life skills simulator program established pursuant to this section shall include, but not be limited to, components including decision-making and problem-solving; creative thinking and critical thinking; communication and interpersonal skills; self-awareness and empathy; assertiveness and equanimity; resilience and coping with emotions and stress including, but not limited to, trauma-informed decision-making, emotional regulation, and conflict de-escalation.

Training modules shall include, but are not limited to, the following: resume writing; interview preparation; workforce conflict resolution; professional communication; banking; credit counseling; budgeting; taxes; child support obligations; lease agreements; tenants’ rights; establishing utility accounts; and landlord and tenant interactions.

d. An inmate who satisfactorily participates in the virtual reality life skills simulator program shall be eligible for commutation time for good behavior pursuant to R.S.30:4-140 or credits for diligent application to work and other institutional assignments pursuant to R.S.30:4-92.

3. Section 1 of P.L.2009, c.330 (C.30:4-92.1) is amended to read as follows:

1. The Commissioner of Corrections, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, shall establish a mandatory workforce skills training program in each State correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections.

a. The requirement of participating in a workforce skills training program shall apply to an inmate who:

(1) is in the custody of the Department of Corrections on the effective date of P.L.2009, c.330 (C.30:4-92.1 et al.);

(2) has 18 months or more remaining to be served before a mandatory release date; and

(3) is not exempted due to a medical, developmental, or learning disability.

b. The mandatory workforce skills training program requirement may be deferred for an inmate who is serving a sentence exceeding 10 years.

c. The workforce skills training program shall contain (1) a computer literacy component, including instruction on word processing, typing, Internet navigation, and use of e-mail; and (2) a virtual reality simulator component to aid the development of life and workforce skills as set forth in section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

d. An inmate who satisfactorily participates in the mandatory workforce skills training program shall be eligible for commutation time for good behavior pursuant to R.S.30:4-140 or credits for diligent application to work and other institutional assignments pursuant to R.S.30:4-92.

e. The commissioner shall report to the State Parole Board the progress of an inmate participating in the mandatory workforce skills training program.

f. The commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, shall promulgate, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) the rules and regulations that are necessary to implement the provisions of P.L.2009, c.330 (C.30:4-92.1 et al.). These rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions to:

(1) determine when an inmate shall be exempted from the mandatory workforce skills training requirement due to a medical, developmental, or learning disability as authorized under paragraph (3) of subsection a. of this section; and

(2) authorize these exempted inmates to voluntarily participate in the mandatory workforce skills training program.

(cf: P.L.2009, c.330, s.1)

4. Section 3 of P.L.2009, c.330 (C.30:4-92a) is amended to read as follows:

3. In addition to credits received pursuant to R.S.30:4-92 and R.S.30:4-140, the commissioner also may award inmates special credits to provide further remission from time of sentence for achievements in education and workforce training. Successful completion of life skills programming, including virtual reality life skills simulator program participation, may be considered as a factor in awarding educational or workforce achievement credit.

(cf: P.L.2009, c.330, s.3)

5. This act shall take effect on the 90^th day after enactment except that the Department of Correction may take anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill creates a virtual reality life skills simulator program in each State correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the DOC. The bill is intended to enhance existing training programs established within the DOC to aid inmates in transitioning back into the community.

Under P.L.2009, c.330 the Commissioner of Corrections was directed to work with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to establish a mandatory workforce skills training program in each of this State’s correctional facilities. The law further requires the Commissioner of Corrections to work with the Commissioner of Education to establish a program of mandatory education in each State correctional facility under which inmates will be required to attain a high school equivalency certificate or high school diploma.

This bill directs the Commissioner of Corrections, in consultation with the Department of Labor, two-year and four-year colleges within this State; and local workforce development boards; to establish a virtual reality life skills simulator program at each DOC correctional facility. Under the bill, the requirement of participation in the virtual reality life skills simulator program shall apply to an inmate who is in the custody of the DOC on the effective date of enactment, has 24 months or more remaining to be served before a mandatory release date, and who is not exempted due to a medical, developmental, learning disability, other health reason, or, due to completion of life skills training in an alternate format.

The virtual reality life skills simulator program established pursuant to this bill shall include, but not be limited to, components including decision-making and problem-solving; creative thinking and critical thinking; communication and interpersonal skills; self-awareness and empathy; assertiveness and equanimity; resilience and coping with emotions and stress including, but not limited to, trauma-informed decision-making, emotional regulation, and conflict de-escalation. The World Health Organization (WHO), identifies these processes as primary life skills.

Under the bill, an inmate who satisfactorily participates in the virtual reality life skills simulator program would be eligible for commutation time for good behavior or credits for diligent application to work and other institutional assignments.

The bill amends N.J.S.A.30:4-92.1 to expand the mandatory workforce skills training program in each State correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the DOC to include a virtual reality life skills simulator component to aid the development of life and workforce skills.

N.J.S.A.30:4-92a to permits the Commissioner to award inmates special credits to provide further remission from time of sentence for achievements in education and workforce training. The bill extends this authority to awarding credit for life skills programming participation including the virtual reality life skills simulator program.