Requires DOC to establish standards of habitability for prison housing units.

This bill (A5530) requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections (DOC) to establish minimum habitability standards for all prison housing units, including Restorative Housing Units (RHUs). The standards must meet or exceed those set by the American Correctional Association. The legislation responds directly to documented issues in RHUs, such as sewage spills, poor sanitation, and inadequate plumbing at Northern State Prison, as noted in a 2024 Corrections Ombudsperson report. The DOC must adopt implementing rules under state administrative procedures, with the law taking effect 90 days after enactment.