Authority: §§ 22.1-339 through 22.1-345, Code of Virginia.

A. The Board of Correctional Education, with assistance from the Department of Correctional Education, shall examine the feasibility of utilizing teaching contracts between the Board and its instructional employees, in lieu of classified employment, to establish the compensation and performance levels of teachers employed to work in the adult and juvenile corrections system. In conducting this study, the Board shall consult with teaching employees of the Department and with the Department of Education. The Board shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by December 1, 1996.

B. The Department shall prepare a report on the utilization of adult inmates as academic and vocational teacher aides, library aides, and in other useful occupations, in order to determine the costs and benefits of developing a corps of inmates with specialized skills or educational backgrounds, which may be useful and productive to the Department in providing support services to adult correctional schools. The report shall include a review of the experience of other states and the Federal Bureau of Prisons in this field, and shall include consideration of all relevant security issues. The report shall also include such recommendations as the Department deems appropriate. Copies of this report shall be presented to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by September 12, 1997.