(CORRECTED COPY)
An Act concerning inmate reentry, amending P.L.2009, c.329, and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
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:
C.30:1B-6.2 Information provided to inmate prior to release; rules, regulations.
2. The Commissioner of Corrections shall provide to each inmate at least 10 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. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2020, c.45)
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. (1) A medical discharge summary, which shall include instructions on how to obtain from the commissioner a copy of the inmate's full medical record. Upon request from the inmate, the commissioner shall provide a copy of the inmate's full medical record in a safe and secure manner, at no charge to the inmate.
(2) Within 90 days of the effective date of this act, the commissioner, in consultation with the State Board of Medical Examiners, shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to ensure that these records are expeditiously and securely provided, in a manner consistent with the provision of medical records by other providers.
C.30:1B-6.15 Provision of non-driver identification card.
2. The Commissioner of Corrections shall provide a non-driver identification card issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to each inmate, free of charge, as soon as practicable, but not less than 10 days prior to the inmate’s release from a State correctional facility. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue the identification card and accept a former inmate's Department of Corrections identification card as two points for the purposes of applying for the identification card. Whenever the Motor Vehicle Commission agencies are closed during a declared public health emergency, pursuant to the “Emergency Health Powers Act,” P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.), a state of emergency, pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.), or both, the inmate’s Department of Corrections identification card shall be accepted by all State, county, and municipal agencies and New Jersey nonprofits in a manner as to allow the releasee to gain access to services for which they are deemed eligible for the duration of the public health emergency.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, during the Public Health Emergency or State of Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order 103 of 2020, in addition to the two-week supply of medication provided to an inmate prior to release from a State correctional facility pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2009, c.329 (C.30:1B-6.2), and to the extent consistent with clinical guidelines, an inmate shall be given an additional 30 day prescription order and two additional refills.
C.30:1B-6.16 Assistance with applications for enrollment in certain programs.
4. a. The Commissioner of Corrections shall ensure that an inmate is assisted with completing and forwarding for processing to the Department of Human Services as soon as practicable but not less than 30 days prior to an inmate’s release from incarceration, an online application for enrollment in the Medicaid program, established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.).
b. In addition to the requirements of subsection a. of this section, the Commissioner of Corrections shall also ensure that the inmate is assisted in completing and forwarding for processing to the appropriate county welfare agency or board of social services, as soon as practicable but not less than 30 days prior to an inmate’s release from incarceration, online applications for enrollment in the following programs:
(1) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.88-525 (7 U.S.C.s.2011 et seq.); and
(2) the Work First New Jersey program, established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.), which shall include, for inmates who are unable to identify a residence at the time of release, the application for emergency assistance benefits issued to Work First New Jersey recipients pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1997, c.14 (C.44:10-51).
c. The Department of Human Services shall be required to accept and process the online applications for Medicaid received from the Department of Corrections pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
C.30:1B-6.17 Information provided to county welfare agency, board of social services.
5. The Commissioner of Corrections shall provide to the appropriate county welfare agency or board of social services, in advance of an inmate’s release, the inmate’s name, release date, and contact information, which shall include, but not be limited to, a telephone number or an email address.
6. This act shall take effect immediately.
Approved July 1, 2020.