ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 201
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: DECEMBER 3, 2018
The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 201.
As reported by the committee, Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 201 establishes the “Commission on Reentry Services” to examine issues relating to prisoner reentry including, but not limited to, identifying specific services that are necessary for successful reentry, identifying current obstacles to prisoners receiving these services, and proposing solutions to remove these obstacles.
Specifically, the commission is required to examine the following areas and services: (1) the psychological profile of the prisoner, including the psychological health of prisoners and methods to minimize psychological damage; (2) housing, including halfway houses and residential housing; (3) employment; (4) education and training; (5) employment training and workforce development; (6) addiction and substance abuse treatment, including drug treatment for individuals released from State and county correctional facilities; specifically the length of drug treatment and access to medication assisted treatment, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and intensive outpatient programs; (7) medical and mental health treatment; (8) access to legal assistance and current legal restrictions that create barriers to successful reentry; (9) integration of corrections, parole, and reentry, including the use of parole and supervision; and (10) coordination with faith-based organizations.
The 14 member commission is to be comprised of a representative of a civil rights organization, appointed by the President of the Senate; two representatives of reentry programs, one of whom is to be appointed by the President of the Senate and one of whom is to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; a representative of organized labor, appointed by the President of the Senate; a representative of an organization committed to eradicating income inequality in this State, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; a representative from a healthcare organization, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; a representative of the SAA/EVI, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; an attorney with expertise in prisoner reentry issues, appointed by the President of the Senate; two representatives from the business industry, one of whom is to be appointed by the President of the Senate and one of whom is to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; a representative of an organization whose members provide mental health and substance use treatment services, appointed by the President of the Senate; a representative with expertise in neuroscience and behavioral modification, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; a representative of the law enforcement community, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; and a representative of the employment and training industry, who by experience or training has expertise in prisoner reentry issues, appointed by the President of the Senate.
The commission is required to organize within 30 days of the appointment of its members. A chairperson is to be elected by its members and a secretary is to be selected by the chairperson. Five members of the commission would constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Members of the commission are to serve without compensation, but they are to be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties for the commission.
The commission is required to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including legislative proposals, to the Governor and the Legislature within 18 months of its organizational meeting. The commission will expire upon submission of the report.
As reported by the committee, Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 201 is identical to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 144, which also was reported by the committee on this date.