Amended in Assembly March 21, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1019

Introduced by Assembly Member Ammiano

February 22, 2013

An act to amend Section 2053.4 of begin insert , and to add Section 2053.5 to, end insert the Penal Code, relating to state prisons.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1019, as amended, Ammiano. State prisons: correctional education and vocational training.

Existing law requires the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to appoint a Superintendent of Correctional Education to oversee and administer all prison education programs, set long-term and short-term goals for inmate literacy and testing, and establish priorities for prison education. begin insert Existing law also establishes the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board to review the mental health, substance abuse, educational, and employment programs for inmates of state prisons. end insert

This bill would begin delete also end delete require goals for begin delete vocational end delete begin insert career technical end insert education to be set by the Superintendent of Correctional Education begin insert , and would establish factors that are required to be taken into account when establishing a career technical education program, including the demand for the skills being trained and the availability of employment in those fields. The bill would require the department to develop standards and criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of career technical education programs with review by the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board end insert .

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

begin insert

begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Given that, as of June 2012, 60.8 percent of state
prison inmates have a medium to high need for academic or career
technical programs, and it has been shown that career technical
education programs are both effective at reducing recidivism and
cost effective to the state, it is the intent of the Legislature in
enacting this act that the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation shall, within its existing resources, set both short-
and long-term goals for career technical education programs. end insert

begin delete SECTION 1. end delete
begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

Section 2053.4 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

2053.4.  

The Secretary of the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation shall appoint a Superintendent of Correctional
Education, who shall oversee and administer all prison education
programs. The Superintendent of Correctional Education shall set
both short-term and long-term goals for inmate literacy and testing
and begin delete vocational end delete begin insert career technical end insert education programs, and shall
establish priorities for prison academic and begin delete vocational end delete begin insert career
technical end insert education programs.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 3. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 2053.5 is added to the end insert begin insert Penal Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 2053.5. end insert   

(a) Based upon the goals and priorities of the
department, a career technical education program established,
given the department’s goals and priorities, shall take into account
all of the following factors:

(1) Whether the program aligns with the workforce needs of
high demand sectors of the state and regional economies.

(2) Whether there is an active job market for the skills being
developed where the inmate will likely be released.

(3) Whether the program increases the number of inmates who
obtain a marketable and industry or apprenticeship board
recognized certification, credential, or degree.

(4) Whether there are formal or informal networks in the field
that support finding employment upon release from prison.

(5) Whether the program will lead to employment in occupations
with a livable wage.

(b) Using data to support evidence-based policymaking, the
department shall develop standards and criteria for evaluating
the effectiveness of career technical education programs with
review by the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board.

end insert