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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the solicitation of pen pals by certain inmates of the |
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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 500, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 500.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 500.009. PEN PAL SOLICITATION PROHIBITED. (a) This |
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section applies only to an inmate confined in a facility operated by |
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or under contract with the department who is serving a sentence for |
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an offense for which registration as a sex offender is required |
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under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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(b) The department shall adopt a policy that prohibits an |
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inmate described by Subsection (a) from placing an advertisement |
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soliciting a pen pal on an Internet website operated for that |
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purpose, regardless of whether another person submits or pays for |
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the advertisement for the inmate. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice shall adopt the policy required by |
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Section 500.009, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |