The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2062
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 14, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. SIMON, TAYLOR -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
   ABBATE, ASHBY, BARRON, CRUZ, DICKENS, EPSTEIN, GLICK, GOTTFRIED, HUNT-
   ER, LUPARDO, O'DONNELL, RA, REYES, SAYEGH, THIELE, WEPRIN -- read once
   and referred to the Committee on Correction
 
 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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01117-01-1

 A. 2062                             2
 
 CONSISTENT WITH SCIENCE-BASED RESEARCH SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO ADDRESS-
 ING DYSLEXIA.
   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.