| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to family liaison officers in county jails. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Section 511.024 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 511.024. FAMILY LIAISON OFFICER. (a) The commission |
|
|
shall require the sheriff of a county to designate at least one |
|
|
employee at the county jail to serve as a family liaison officer for |
|
|
the jail to facilitate the maintenance of ties between prisoners |
|
|
and their families for the purpose of reducing recidivism. |
|
|
(b) In making a designation under Subsection (a), the |
|
|
sheriff shall give preference to employees with experience in |
|
|
social work, psychology, or a related field. |
|
|
(c) A family liaison officer shall: |
|
|
(1) provide prisoners' families with information about |
|
|
the classification status, location, and health of prisoners at the |
|
|
county jail; and |
|
|
(2) notify prisoners within a reasonable time about |
|
|
emergencies involving their families, such as a medical emergency |
|
|
or death in the family, and provide prisoners with other necessary |
|
|
information relating to their families. |
|
|
(d) A family liaison officer may not disclose information |
|
|
under Subsection (c)(1) about a prisoner's health unless the |
|
|
prisoner has authorized the release of the prisoner's medical |
|
|
information to that family member. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |