California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 2053

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that there is a correlation between prisoners who are functionally literate and those who successfully reintegrate into society upon release. It is therefore the intent of the Legislature, in enacting “The Prisoner Literacy Act,” to raise the percentage of prisoners who are functionally literate, in order to provide for a corresponding reduction in the recidivism rate.

(b) The Department of Corrections shall determine the reading level of each prisoner upon commitment.