S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4115
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 2, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and
Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to requiring the educa-
tional and vocational credits earned by incarcerated individuals are
transferable upon release
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 136 of the correction law, as
amended by chapter 431 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as
follows:
1. The objective of correctional education in its broadest sense
should be the socialization of the inmates through varied impressional
and expressional activities, with emphasis on individual inmate needs.
The objective of this program shall be the return of these inmates to
society with a more wholesome attitude toward living, with a desire to
conduct themselves as good citizens, and with the skill and knowledge
which will give them a reasonable chance to maintain themselves and
their dependents through honest labor. To this end each inmate shall be
given a program of education which, on the basis of available data,
seems most likely to further the process of socialization and rehabili-
tation. Provided that, the commissioner, in consultation with the
commissioner of education, shall develop a curricula for and require
provision of an education program to all inmates, on a periodic basis,
on the consequences and prevention of shaken baby syndrome which may
include the viewing of a video presentation thereon. The time daily
devoted to such education shall be such as is required for meeting the
above objectives. The director of education, subject to the direction of
the commissioner and after consultation with the commissioner of educa-
tion, shall develop the curricula and the education programs that are
required to meet the special needs of each correctional facility in the
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08830-01-1
S. 4115 2
department. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION SHALL ENSURE SUCH CURRICULA
AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS PROVIDE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTU-
NITY TO EARN EDUCATIONAL OR VOCATIONAL CREDITS WHICH SHALL BE TRANSFERA-
BLE TO AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION UPON THE RELEASE OF THE INCARCERATED
INDIVIDUAL. The commissioner of education, in cooperation with the
commissioner and the director of education, shall set up the educational
requirements for the certification of teachers in all such correctional
facilities. Such educational requirements shall be sufficiently broad
and comprehensive to include training in penology, sociology, psychol-
ogy, philosophy, in the special subjects to be taught, and in any other
professional courses as may be deemed necessary by the responsible offi-
cers, and shall include training relating to the consequences and
prevention of shaken baby syndrome which may include the viewing of a
video presentation thereon. No certificates for teaching service in the
state institutions shall be issued unless a minimum of four years of
training beyond the high school has been secured, or an acceptable
equivalent. Existing requirements for the certification of teachers in
the institutions shall continue in force until changed pursuant to the
provisions of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.