By Stiles, et al. H.B. No. 1116
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the use of temporary housing for certain inmates of the
1-3 institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 501.111, Government Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 501.111. Temporary Housing <PROHIBITED>. (a) Except
1-8 as provided by Subsection (b) and Subsection (c), the institutional
1-9 division may not house inmates in tents, cellblock runs, hallways,
1-10 laundry distribution rooms, converted dayroom space, gymnasiums, or
1-11 any other facilities not specifically built for housing.
1-12 (b) Temporary housing may be used to house roving inmate
1-13 construction crews and inmates temporarily displaced only because
1-14 of housing renovation, fire, natural disaster, riot or hostage
1-15 situations, if the institutional division provides those inmates
1-16 with reasonable sanitary hygiene facilities.
1-17 (c) The institutional division may house inmates in tents or
1-18 tent-like structures:
1-19 (1) under the circumstances described by Subsection
1-20 (b);
1-21 (2) if the inmates are participants in correctional
1-22 programs such as work camps, wilderness camps, forestry camps, or
1-23 boot camps, when those structures are practicable and appropriate
1-24 for the particular program, and:
2-1 (A) the division defines in writing the purposes
2-2 of the program and establishes a maximum capacity for each tent or
2-3 tent-like structure used to house participants in the program;
2-4 (B) the board makes an affirmative finding that
2-5 the use of tents or tent-like structures to house participants is
2-6 cost-effective; and
2-7 (C) the state fire marshal certifies that the
2-8 tents or tent-like structures are fire-safe at the maximum
2-9 capacities established by the division under Subdivision (2)(A); or
2-10 (3) to comply with the provisions of the order in
2-11 Alberti v. Harris County and the governor of Texas.
2-12 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
2-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-17 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-18 passage, and it is so enacted.