California Senate Bill SB1121 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 1121INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Hancock FEBRUARY 17, 2012 An act to amend Section 3020 of the Penal Code, relating to inmates. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1121, as introduced, Hancock. Inmates: assessments. Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to conduct assessments of all inmates that include, but are not limited to, data regarding the inmate's history of substance abuse, medical and mental health, education, family background, criminal activity, and social functioning. Existing law requires these assessments to be used to place inmates in programs that will aid reentry to society and will most likely reduce the inmate's chances of reoffending. This bill would require that credentialed teachers, with input from the staff of the institution that has custody of the inmate, use these assessments to assign to, place within, or remove from academic or vocational educational programs operated by the department an inmate who does not have a high school diploma or a GED, who lacks vocational skills, or whose assessments indicate that he or she has identified academic deficits. The bill would also require that placement and assignment efforts permit the dual placement of an inmate in work assignments and in academic or vocational programs. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 3020 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 3020. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall conduct assessments of all inmates that include, but are not limited to, data regarding the inmate's history of substance abuse, medical and mental health, education, family background, criminal activity, and social functioning. The assessments shall be used to place  inmates   an inmate  in programs that will aid in  their   his or her reentry to society and that will most likely reduce the inmate's chances of reoffending.  Credentialed teachers, with input from the staff of the institution that has custody of the inmate, shall use these assessments to assign to, place within, or remove from academic or vocational educational programs operated by the department an inmate who does not have a high school diploma or a GED, who lacks vocational skills, or who whose assessments indicate that he or she has identified academic deficits. Placement and assignment efforts shall permit the dual placement of an inmate in work assignments and in academic or vocational programs.