Requires all incarcerated individuals who do not have a high-school diploma or its equivalent to receive a reading proficiency-level assessment and dyslexia screening upon intake; requires for such individuals who perform below a certain proficiency level to be provided with dyslexia intervention that is evidence-based effective and consistent with science-based research specifically tailored to addressing dyslexia.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2062
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
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:
1 Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 137-a
2 to read as follows:
3 § 137-a. Reading proficiency level assessment and dyslexia screening.
4 1. As part of the intake process, an incarcerated individual who does
5 not have a high school diploma or its equivalent shall receive a reading
6 proficiency level assessment and dyslexia screening. If an incarcerated
7 individual demonstrates that he or she is below the proficiency level
8 required to be a high-functioning reader, such individual shall be
9 provided with dyslexia intervention that is evidence-based, effective,
10 and consistent with science-based research specifically tailored to
11 addressing dyslexia.
12 2. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of educa-
13 tion, shall promulgate rules and regulations that require, but are not
14 limited to the following:
15 (a) Teachers at all correctional facilities shall have and demonstrate
16 awareness of the best practices of scientific reading instruction;
17 (b) Each inmate who does not have a high school diploma or its equiv-
18 alent shall receive a reading proficiency level assessment and a dysle-
19 xia screening; and
20 (c) A process be established in which incarcerated individuals, upon
21 intake, are assessed and administered a dyslexia screening, and provided
22 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
1 consistent with science-based research specifically tailored to address-
2 ing dyslexia.
3 3. Each superintendent shall submit a plan to the department that
4 allows incarcerated individuals to voluntarily receive a reading profi-
5 ciency level assessment, dyslexia screening, and reading instruction
6 that is evidence-based, effective, and consistent with science-based
7 research specifically tailored to addressing dyslexia.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
9 have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or
10 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
11 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
12 on or before such date.