Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 123 amends the Government Code to authorize a physician employed or retained by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to perform an orchiectomy (surgical castration) on an inmate who has been convicted at least twice of indecency with a child, sexual assault of a child, or aggravated sexual assault of a child. The inmate must be at least 21 years of age, voluntarily choose to undergo the procedure, request the surgery in writing, sign an admission of guilt, be evaluated and counseled by mental health professionals, and be allowed to withdraw the request at any time. The act contains additional safeguards to ensure that the procedure is not abused by the state or the inmate. The act also includes a provision requiring a long-term study to measure the rate of recidivism among inmates who undergo voluntary castration.