The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6787
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             October 21, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MYRIE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to a reading proficiency
   level assessment and dyslexia screening for incarcerated individuals
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 137-a
 to read as follows:
   §  137-A. READING PROFICIENCY LEVEL ASSESSMENT AND DYSLEXIA SCREENING.
 1. AS PART OF THE INTAKE PROCESS, AN INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUAL  WHO  DOES
 NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR ITS EQUIVALENT SHALL RECEIVE A READING
 PROFICIENCY  LEVEL ASSESSMENT AND DYSLEXIA SCREENING. IF AN INCARCERATED
 INDIVIDUAL DEMONSTRATES THAT HE OR SHE IS BELOW  THE  PROFICIENCY  LEVEL
 REQUIRED  TO  BE  A  HIGH-FUNCTIONING  READER,  SUCH INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE
 PROVIDED WITH DYSLEXIA INTERVENTION THAT IS  EVIDENCE-BASED,  EFFECTIVE,
 AND  CONSISTENT  WITH  SCIENCE-BASED  RESEARCH  SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO
 ADDRESSING DYSLEXIA.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER  OF  EDUCA-
 TION,  SHALL  PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT REQUIRE, BUT ARE NOT
 LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) TEACHERS AT ALL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES SHALL HAVE AND DEMONSTRATE
 AWARENESS OF THE BEST PRACTICES OF SCIENTIFIC READING INSTRUCTION;
   (B) EACH INMATE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR ITS  EQUIV-
 ALENT  SHALL RECEIVE A READING PROFICIENCY LEVEL ASSESSMENT AND A DYSLE-
 XIA SCREENING; AND
   (C) A PROCESS BE ESTABLISHED IN WHICH INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUALS,  UPON
 INTAKE, ARE ASSESSED AND ADMINISTERED A DYSLEXIA SCREENING, AND PROVIDED
 WITH  DYSLEXIA  INTERVENTION  THAT  IS  EVIDENCE-BASED,  EFFECTIVE,  AND
 CONSISTENT WITH SCIENCE-BASED RESEARCH SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO ADDRESS-
 ING DYSLEXIA.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11644-03-9

 S. 6787                             2
 
   3. EACH SUPERINTENDENT SHALL SUBMIT A  PLAN  TO  THE  DEPARTMENT  THAT
 ALLOWS  INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS TO VOLUNTARILY RECEIVE A READING PROFI-
 CIENCY LEVEL ASSESSMENT, DYSLEXIA  SCREENING,  AND  READING  INSTRUCTION
 THAT  IS  EVIDENCE-BASED,  EFFECTIVE,  AND CONSISTENT WITH SCIENCE-BASED
 RESEARCH SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO ADDRESSING DYSLEXIA.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment  and/or
 repeal  of  any  rule  or regulation necessary for the implementation of
 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made  and  completed
 on or before such date.