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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to program accessibility for female inmates of the Texas |
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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. Section 501.027, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.027. ACCESS TO PROGRAMS BY FEMALE INMATES. (a) |
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The department shall develop and implement policies that increase |
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and promote a female inmate's access to programs, including |
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parenting classes and educational, vocational, substance use |
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treatment, rehabilitation, life skills training, and prerelease |
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programs, offered to inmates in the custody of the department, |
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including programs offered to defendants confined in state jail |
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felony facilities [including educational, vocational, substance |
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use treatment, rehabilitation, life skills training, and |
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prerelease programs]. The department may not reduce or limit a male |
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inmate's access to a program to meet the requirements of this |
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section. |
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(b) The department shall develop and implement policies |
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that: |
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(1) require each facility to make the programs |
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described by Subsection (a) available and accessible to a female |
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inmate not later than the 45th day after the date the inmate arrives |
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at the facility; |
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(2) ensure female inmates have access to program |
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opportunities, including master's level education courses, that |
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are equitable to the program opportunities that are provided to |
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male inmates; and |
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(3) ensure that vocational programs and any related |
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certifications are substantively relevant to current workforce |
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demands and opportunities. |
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(c) Not later than December 31 of each year, the department |
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shall: |
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(1) prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, each |
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standing committee of the legislature having primary jurisdiction |
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over the department, and the reentry task force described by |
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Section 501.098 a written report that includes: |
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(A) a description of any department policies that |
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were created, modified, or eliminated during the preceding year to |
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meet the requirements of this section; and |
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(B) a list of programs available to female |
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inmates in the custody of the department during the preceding year; |
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and |
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(2) publish the report on the department's Internet |
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website. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall develop |
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and implement the policies necessary to implement the changes in |
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law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |