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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain procedures concerning the welfare of prisoners |
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confined in county jails. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Sections 511.024, 511.025, and 511.026 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 511.024. FAMILY LIAISON OFFICER. (a) The commission |
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shall require the sheriff of a county to designate one employee at |
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the county jail to serve as the family liaison officer for the jail |
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to facilitate the maintenance of ties between prisoners and their |
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families for the purpose of reducing recidivism. |
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(b) The family liaison officer shall: |
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(1) provide prisoners' families with information about |
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the classification status, location, and health of prisoners at the |
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county jail; |
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(2) notify prisoners about emergencies involving |
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their families and provide prisoners with other necessary |
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information relating to their families; |
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(3) assist prisoners' families and other persons |
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during visits with prisoners and aid those persons in resolving |
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problems that may affect permitted contact with prisoners; and |
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(4) inform individuals who possess a reference number |
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described by Section 511.025 when the applicable prisoner requires |
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any medical attention outside of routine medical checks. |
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Sec. 511.025. MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION FORM. (a) The |
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commission shall adopt a medical authorization form for a prisoner |
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to authorize the release of the prisoner's medical information by |
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the county jail to an individual named in the form. |
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(b) On request of a prisoner, a county jail shall submit to |
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the commission a medical authorization form signed by the prisoner. |
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As soon as practicable after receiving the form, the commission |
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shall provide a reference number by mail or facsimile to: |
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(1) the individual named by the prisoner in the form; |
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and |
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(2) the county jail that submitted the form. |
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(c) An individual named in a medical authorization form may |
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obtain medical information concerning the prisoner from the |
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applicable county jail, including the family liaison officer for |
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the county jail, by providing the reference number described by |
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Subsection (b) to the county jail. |
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Sec. 511.026. COMPLAINT INSPECTIONS AND REPORT. (a) On |
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receipt by the commission of a complaint alleging abuse or neglect |
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of a prisoner, including medical neglect, or unsafe conditions at a |
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county jail, the commission shall check on the health and |
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well-being of prisoners at the jail. |
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(b) Not later than February 1 of each year, the commission |
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shall submit to the governor and the presiding officer of each house |
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of the legislature a report on the complaints described by |
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Subsection (a) that the commission received during the preceding |
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year. The report must include, for each county jail, the total |
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number of: |
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(1) complaints submitted; |
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(2) complaints submitted for each category of |
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allegation, including complaints alleging medical neglect and |
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complaints alleging that the family liaison officer for the jail |
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failed to disclose medical information to an individual who |
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possesses a reference number described by Section 511.025; and |
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(3) complaints that were resolved by the commission. |
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(c) The commission may submit the report required under |
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Subsection (b) with the report required under Section 511.015. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Commission on Jail Standards shall adopt the form |
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required by Section 511.025, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |