---
type: "Bill"
title: "Expands scope of inmate reentry assistance and benefits."
description: "Expands scope of inmate reentry assistance and benefits."
jurisdiction: "us/states/nj"
legislature: "New Jersey Legislature"
session: "219"
identifier: "S 2953"
citation: "New Jersey S 2953 (219)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["CORRECTIONS"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Cunningham, Sandra B.", "Mukherji, Raj", "Quijano, Annette", "Sweeney, Stephen M.", "Verrelli, Anthony S."]
version_count: 3
action_count: 13
vote_count: 7
first_action: "2020-09-21T04:00:00+00:00"
last_action: "2021-12-21T05:00:00+00:00"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/6cc650b8-efba-47f3-9b97-af753958cbac"
source_url: "http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/downloads.asp"
source_hash: "f46fd5d9ed39b48853cb81162c8ea45036857acdcdab904721f8f0520d8a6a4d"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-nj"]
---

# New Jersey S 2953 (219) — Expands scope of inmate reentry assistance and benefits.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced Version** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/S3000/2953_I1.HTM)
2. **Reprint** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/S3000/2953_R1.HTM)
3. **Reprint Conditional Veto** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/S3000/2953_R3.HTM)

## Votes

- CONCUR GOV REC — **58–9** (pass) · lower
- AMEND — **21–0** (pass) · upper
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE — **59–14** (pass) · lower
- Reported out of Senate committee with amendments — **6–0** (pass) · upper
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE — **35–4** (pass) · upper
- ADOPT GR — **33–0** (pass) · upper
- CONCUR GOV REC — **34–5** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Cunningham, Sandra B. — primary (person)
- Mukherji, Raj — primary (person)
- Quijano, Annette — primary (person)
- Sweeney, Stephen M. — primary (person)
- Verrelli, Anthony S. — primary (person)
- Jasey, Mila M. — cosponsor (person)
- Johnson, Gordon M. — cosponsor (person)
- Pou, Nellie — cosponsor (person)
- Reynolds-Jackson, Verlina — cosponsor (person)
- Ruiz, M. Teresa — cosponsor (person)
- Turner, Shirley K. — cosponsor (person)
- Vainieri Huttle, Valerie — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2020-09-21T04:00:00+00:00** Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee `introduction, referral-committee`
- **2021-03-11T05:00:00+00:00** Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading `committee-passage`
- **2021-06-03T04:00:00+00:00** Senate Amendment (21-0) (Cunningham) `amendment-passage`
- **2021-06-21T04:00:00+00:00** Passed Senate (35-4) `passage`
- **2021-06-21T04:00:00+00:00** Received in the Assembly without Reference, 2nd Reading
- **2021-06-24T04:00:00+00:00** Substituted for A4785 (3R)
- **2021-06-24T04:00:00+00:00** Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (59-14-0) `passage`
- **2021-11-08T05:00:00+00:00** Conditional Veto, Received in the Senate `executive-veto`
- **2021-12-02T05:00:00+00:00** 2nd Reading on Concur with Governor's Recommendations (33-0)
- **2021-12-20T05:00:00+00:00** Passed Senate (34-5) `passage`
- **2021-12-20T05:00:00+00:00** Received in the Assembly, 2nd Reading - Concur. w/Gov's Recommendations
- **2021-12-20T05:00:00+00:00** Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (58-9-0) `passage`
- **2021-12-21T05:00:00+00:00** Approved P.L.2021, c.312. `executive-signature`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/6cc650b8-efba-47f3-9b97-af753958cbac`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official New Jersey legislature records).