HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3147        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3519

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Steven Ultrino

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:

Resolve establishing a special commission relative to correctional education.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3147        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3519

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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Resolve establishing a special commission relative to correctional education.

Resolved, That a special commission, to consist of 11 members: 2 members of the senate appointed by the senate president, 1 of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on education, and 1 of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, 2 members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker, 1 of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on education, and 1 of whom shall be a member of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, the sheriff of Middlesex county, who shall act as its chairperson, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, or a designee, the secretary of public safety and security, or a designee, and 4 persons to be appointed by the governor,  1 of whom shall be a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, Inc.; 1 of whom shall be a representative of Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services, Inc.;  1 of whom shall be a person with experience in correctional education and higher education and 1 of whom shall be selected from a list of 3 persons nominated by the president of the Local 509 of the Service Employees International Union who shall be an employee of the Department of Correction with experience in correctional education, is hereby established pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4  for the purpose of making an investigation and study relative to educational programs in the state prisons and the county houses of correction.

The commission shall: (i) solicit information and input from correctional education providers, correctional program officers, educational institutions and research organizations, prison advocacy organizations, inmates and their families, and any other parties or entities the commission deems appropriate; (ii) review and identify correctional education needs throughout the commonwealth’s correctional institutions, and best practices in the commonwealth and from other states; (iii) develop recommendations for county and state correctional institutions regarding correctional education, specifically addressing recidivism, inmate demographics and educational needs, intake and discharge practices, special education, programs for English language learners, literacy and numeracy programs, high school equivalency credentials, post-secondary education programs, program quality and accountability, mental health and substance abuse programs, workforce training and development programs, and any other topics that the commission deems appropriate.

Members of the commission shall be named and the commission shall commence its work within 60 days of the effective date of this resolve. The commission shall submit a report setting forth the commission’s findings and recommendations to the clerk of the house of representatives, the clerk of the senate, the joint committee on education, and the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse within 180 days of the effective date of this resolve.