Assembly Bill A9598

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9598
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 27, 2020
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. ARROYO, CRUZ -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Correction
 
 AN ACT to establish the  incarcerated  individual  undergraduate  degree
   completion task force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions
   upon the expiration thereof
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The state department of corrections  and  community  super-
 vision  shall  establish an incarcerated individual undergraduate degree
 completion task force for correction facilities to examine, evaluate and
 issue recommendations on how to  ensure  courses  taken  by  individuals
 while  incarcerated  qualify  for degree completion at a qualified state
 college or university.
   § 2. For the purpose of this act the following terms have the  follow-
 ing meanings:
   (a) "Qualified state college or university" shall mean a campus of the
 state  university  of  New  York, a campus of the city university of New
 York, or a campus of the commission on independent colleges and  univer-
 sities.
   (b)  "Commissioner"  shall  mean the state commissioner of corrections
 and community supervision.
   § 3. (a) Such task force shall consist of nine members that  shall  be
 appointed  as  follows:   six members shall be appointed by the governor
 with recommendations from the state university of  New  York,  the  city
 university  of  New  York and the commission on independent colleges and
 universities; one member shall be appointed by the  temporary  president
 of  the  senate;  one  member  shall  be appointed by the speaker of the
 assembly; and one member shall  be  appointed  by  the  commissioner  of
 corrections.
   (b) The task force shall be chaired by the commissioner or selected by
 the  commissioner from the appointed members. The task force shall elect
 a vice-chair and other  necessary  officers  from  among  all  appointed
 members.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD14177-01-9

 A. 9598                             2
 
   (c)  Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their
 services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses  incurred  in
 the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
   §  4.  The  task  force shall, in collaboration with the department of
 corrections and community supervision and the department  of  education,
 and  in  consultation  with  the  state university of New York, the city
 university of New York and the commission on  independent  colleges  and
 universities, examine, evaluate and issue recommendations on:
   (a)  ensuring  all  credits received from a qualified state college or
 university or an approved incarcerated individual undergraduate  college
 program  are  transferable  and  apply  to undergraduate degree programs
 offered at a qualified state college or university;
   (b) what credit courses shall be offered, including  but  not  limited
 to: (i) when such courses will be offered, (ii) how many individuals are
 able  to  take  part in the program at each state correctional facility,
 (iii) what educational  materials  will  be  provided  for  each  credit
 course;  (iv)  what mechanism for learning will be utilized to teach the
 credit courses; (v) the credit equivalency to other like credit  courses
 offered  at  a qualified state college or university; and (vi) any other
 issue the task force deems necessary in determining what credit  courses
 shall be offered;
   (c)  how,  if applicable, a qualified state college or university will
 collaborate with state correctional facilities to provide  undergraduate
 degree  completion  program  services, including but not limited to: (i)
 academic  counselors,  (ii)  instructional  personnel,  (iii)   tutoring
 services,  or  (iv)  any other service the task force deems necessary to
 assist  incarcerated  individuals  in  completing  their   undergraduate
 degree;
   (d) various methods to fund or otherwise raise capital for such incar-
 cerated individual undergraduate degree completion programs; and
   (e) any other issue such task force deems relevant.
   §  5.  The  task  force  may,  as  it  deems appropriate, request that
 studies, surveys, or analyses relating to the task  force's  powers  and
 duties  be  performed  by  any  state  department, commission, agency or
 public authority. All state departments, commissions, agencies or public
 authorities shall provide information and advice in a timely manner  and
 otherwise assist the task force with its work.
   §  6.  The  department  of corrections and community supervision shall
 provide staff services to the task force and such  other  administrative
 assistance  as  may  be  necessary  for  the task force to carry out its
 duties, functions and powers.
   § 7. The task force shall make and submit a report  of  its  findings,
 conclusions and recommendations to the governor, the temporary president
 of  the  senate and the speaker of the assembly on or before February 1,
 2021 and shall submit with its report legislative proposals as it  deems
 necessary to implement such recommendations.
   §  8.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed March 1, 2021.