Establishes virtual reality simulator program in DOC facilities.

A5318

ASSEMBLY, No. 5318

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JUNE 23, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� KENYATTA STEWART

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes virtual reality simulator program in DOC
facilities.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning inmates, amending P.L.2009, c.330 and
supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� (New section)� The
Legislature finds and declares that:� a. Industry and scholarly research has
demonstrated that immersive simulation-based training improves retention of
workforce life skills and may assist individuals preparing for community
reentry.� b. The World Health Organization has identified core components of
life skills that are amenable to different teaching formats.� c. Global market
research conducted on behalf of global corporations, financial institutions,
and described as �the largest study of virtual reality�s effectiveness for
soft-skills training,� found that learners completed training four times faster
than in classrooms, were four times more focused, and were up to 275% more
confident in applying their new skills. �

���� d. �In addition to industrial
uses, this technology can aid returning citizens in readjusting to life outside
of incarceration settings.

���� 2.� (New section)� The Commissioner
of Corrections, in consultation with the Department of Labor, two-year and
four-year colleges within this State; and local workforce development boards;
shall establish a mandatory virtual reality life skills simulator program in
each State correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Corrections to supplement life skills and workforce training available to
inmates through the department.�

���� a.� The requirement of
participating in the virtual reality life skills simulator program shall apply
to any inmate who:

���� (1)� is in the custody of the Department
of Corrections on or after the effective date of P.L.��� , c.� (C.������ )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill);

���� (2)� has 24 months or more
remaining to be served before a mandatory release date;

���� (3)� is not exempted due to a
medical, developmental, learning disability, other health reason, or, due to
completion of life skills training in an alternate format.

���� b.� The virtual reality life
skills training program may be deferred for an inmate who is serving a sentence
exceeding 10 years, or who has, during the current period of incarceration,
participated in inmate life skills training in an alternate format.

���� c.� The virtual reality life
skills simulator program established pursuant to this section shall include,
but not be limited to, components including decision-making and problem-solving;
creative thinking and critical thinking; communication and interpersonal
skills; self-awareness and empathy; assertiveness and equanimity; resilience
and coping with emotions and stress including, but not limited to,
trauma-informed decision-making, emotional regulation, and conflict
de-escalation.�

���� Training modules shall
include, but are not limited to, the following:� resume writing; interview
preparation; workforce conflict resolution; professional communication; banking;
credit counseling; budgeting; taxes; child support obligations; lease
agreements; tenants� rights; establishing utility accounts; and landlord and
tenant interactions.

���� d.� An inmate who
satisfactorily participates in the virtual reality life skills simulator
program shall be eligible for commutation time for good behavior pursuant to
R.S.30:4-140 or credits for diligent application to work and other
institutional assignments pursuant to R.S.30:4-92.

���� 3.� Section 1 of P.L.2009,
c.330 (C.30:4-92.1) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.��� The Commissioner of
Corrections, in consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce
Development, shall establish a mandatory workforce skills training program in
each State correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Corrections.

���� a.���� The requirement of
participating in a workforce skills training program shall apply to an inmate
who:

���� (1)�� is in the custody of the
Department of Corrections on the effective date of P.L.2009, c.330 (C.30:4-92.1
et al.);

���� (2)�� has 18 months or more
remaining to be served before a mandatory release date; and

���� (3)�� is not exempted due to a
medical, developmental, or learning disability.

���� b.��� The mandatory workforce
skills training program requirement may be deferred for an inmate who is
serving a sentence exceeding 10 years.

���� c.���� The workforce skills
training program shall contain
(1)
� a computer literacy component,
including instruction on word processing, typing, Internet navigation, and use
of e-mail
; and (2) a virtual reality simulator component to aid the
development of life and workforce skills as set forth in section 2 of P.L.� ,
c.�� (C.������ ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)
.

���� d.��� An inmate who
satisfactorily participates in the mandatory workforce skills training program
shall be eligible for commutation time for good behavior pursuant to
R.S.30:4-140 or credits for diligent application to work and other
institutional assignments pursuant to R.S.30:4-92.

���� e.���� The commissioner shall
report to the State Parole Board the progress of an inmate participating in the
mandatory workforce skills training program.

���� f.���� The commissioner, in
consultation with the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, shall
promulgate, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968,
c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) the rules and regulations that are necessary to implement
the provisions of P.L.2009, c.330 (C.30:4-92.1 et al.).� These rules and
regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions to:

���� (1)�� determine when an inmate
shall be exempted from the mandatory workforce skills training requirement due
to a medical, developmental, or learning disability as authorized under
paragraph (3) of subsection a. of this section; and

���� (2)�� authorize these exempted
inmates to voluntarily participate in the mandatory workforce skills training
program.

(cf: P.L.2009, c.330, s.1)

���� 4.� Section 3 of P.L.2009,
c.330 (C.30:4-92a) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.� In addition to credits
received pursuant to R.S.30:4-92 and R.S.30:4-140, the commissioner also may
award inmates special credits to provide further remission from time of
sentence for achievements in education and workforce training.�
Successful
completion of life skills programming, including virtual reality life skills
simulator program participation, may be considered as a factor in awarding
educational or workforce achievement credit.
����

(cf: P.L.2009, c.330, s.3)

���� 5. �This act shall take effect
on the 90
th
day after enactment except that the Department of
Correction may take anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be
necessary for the implementation of this act.�

STATEMENT

���� This bill creates a virtual
reality life skills simulator program in each State correctional facility under
the jurisdiction of the DOC.� The bill is intended to enhance existing training
programs established within the DOC to aid inmates in transitioning back into
the community.�

���� Under P.L.2009, c.330 the
Commissioner of Corrections was directed to work with the Commissioner of Labor
and Workforce Development to establish a mandatory workforce skills training
program in each of this State�s correctional facilities. �The law further
requires the Commissioner of Corrections to work with the Commissioner of
Education to establish a program of mandatory education in each State
correctional facility under which inmates will be required to attain a high
school equivalency certificate or high school diploma.

���� This bill directs the Commissioner
of Corrections, in consultation with the Department of Labor, two-year and
four-year colleges within this State; and local workforce development boards;
to establish a virtual reality life skills simulator program at each DOC
correctional facility.� Under the bill, the requirement of participation in the
virtual reality life skills simulator program shall apply to an inmate who is
in the custody of the DOC on the effective date of enactment, has 24 months or
more remaining to be served before a mandatory release date, and who is not
exempted due to a medical, developmental, learning disability, other health
reason, or, due to completion of life skills training in an alternate format.

���� The virtual reality life
skills simulator program established pursuant to this bill shall include, but
not be limited to, components including decision-making and problem-solving;
creative thinking and critical thinking; communication and interpersonal skills;
self-awareness and empathy; assertiveness and equanimity; resilience and coping
with emotions and stress including, but not limited to, trauma-informed
decision-making, emotional regulation, and conflict de-escalation.� The World
Health Organization (WHO), identifies these processes as primary life skills.�

���� Training modules shall
include, but are not limited to, the following:� resume writing; interview
preparation; workforce conflict resolution; professional communication;
banking; credit counseling; budgeting; taxes; child support obligations; lease
agreements; tenants� rights; establishing utility accounts; and landlord and
tenant interactions..�

���� Under the bill, an inmate who
satisfactorily participates in the virtual reality life skills simulator
program would �be eligible for commutation time for good behavior or credits
for diligent application to work and other institutional assignments.

���� The bill amends N.J.S.A.30:4-92.1
to expand the mandatory workforce skills training program in each State
correctional facility under the jurisdiction of the DOC to include a virtual
reality life skills simulator component to aid the development of life and
workforce skills.�

���� N.J.S.A.30:4-92a to permits
the Commissioner to award inmates special credits to provide further remission
from time of sentence for achievements in education and workforce training.�
The bill extends this authority to awarding credit for life skills programming
participation including the virtual reality life skills simulator program.