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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the life expectancies of inmates and correctional |
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officers of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 493.034 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 493.034. LIFE EXPECTANCY OF INMATES AND CORRECTIONAL |
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OFFICERS. (a) The department shall biennially review the average |
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life expectancies of inmates confined in facilities operated by or |
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under contract with the department and correctional officers |
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employed by the department. In conducting the review, the |
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department shall identify and rank, by severity, the types of |
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traumas or conditions experienced by: |
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(1) inmates while confined that negatively affect the |
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life expectancies of inmates; and |
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(2) correctional officers while working that |
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negatively affect the life expectancies of correctional officers. |
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(b) The department shall adopt policies and implement |
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methods or programs designed to: |
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(1) minimize the traumas or conditions identified |
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under Subsection (a); and |
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(2) help inmates and correctional officers cope with |
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the traumas or conditions. |
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(c) Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the department shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each |
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standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over the |
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department a report that: |
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(1) contains the results of the review conducted under |
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Subsection (a); and |
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(2) describes the policies, methods, or programs |
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adopted or implemented under Subsection (b) and the effect of those |
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policies, methods, or programs on the life expectancies of inmates |
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and correctional officers. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |