AB 494, as introduced, V. Manuel Pérez. Prisoners: literacy and education.
Existing law requires the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to implement in every state prison literacy programs that are designed to ensure that, upon parole, inmates are able to achieve a 9th grade reading level. Existing law further requires the department to prepare an implementation plan for the literacy programs and to request sufficient funds to make the programs available to a certain percentage of inmates by specified dates.
This bill would require the department to request sufficient funding to make the literacy programs available to 75% of inmates by January 1, 2016. The bill would also require the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to implement in every state prison educational programs designed to ensure that, upon parole, inmates are able to acquire a high school diploma, or its equivalent. The department would also be required to prepare an implementation plan for the educational programs and to request sufficient funds to make the programs available to a certain percentage of inmates by specified dates. This bill would also make a technical, nonsubstantive change to these provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 2053.1 of the Penal Code is amended to
2read:
begin insert(a)end insertbegin insert end insertThebegin delete Director of the Department of Correctionsend delete
4begin insert Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitationend insert
5 shall implement in every state prison literacy programs that are
6designed to ensure that upon parole inmates are able to achieve a
7ninth-grade reading level. The department shall prepare an
8implementation plan for this program, and shall request the
9necessary funds to implement this program as follows:
10(a)
end delete
11begin insert(1)end insert To make the program available to at least 25 percent of
12eligible inmates in the state prison system by July 1, 1991.
13(b)
end delete
14begin insert(2)end insert To make the program available to at least 60 percent of
15eligible inmates in the state prison system by January 1, 1996.
16(3) To make the program available to at least 75 percent of
17eligible inmates in the state prison system by January
1, 2016.
18In
end delete
19begin insert(b)end insertbegin insert end insertbegin insertInend insert complying with the requirements of this section, the
20department shall give strong consideration tobegin delete computer assistedend delete
21begin insert computer-assistedend insert training and other innovations which have
22proven to be effective in reducing illiteracy of disadvantaged adults.
Section 2053.2 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
(a) The Secretary of the Department of Corrections
25and Rehabilitation shall implement in every state prison educational
26programs that are designed to ensure that upon parole inmates are
27able to acquire a high school diploma or its equivalent. The
28department shall prepare an implementation plan for this program,
29and shall request the necessary funds to implement this program
30as follows:
31(1) To make the program available to at least 25 percent of
32eligible inmates in the state prison system by July 1, 2016.
33(2) To make the program available to at least 60 percent of
34eligible inmates in the state prison system by January 1, 2019.
P3 1(3) To make the program available to at least 75 percent of
2eligible inmates in the state prison system by January 1, 2022.
3(b) In complying with the requirements of this section, the
4department shall give strong consideration to computer-assisted
5training and other innovations which have proven to be effective
6in teaching and educating disadvantaged adults.
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