By Place                                              H.B. No. 2304
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the state's liability for inmates released on medical
    1-3  furlough.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 501.006, Government Code, is amended by
    1-6  adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
    1-7        (i)  Neither the state nor its agencies or departments shall
    1-8  be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by an inmate while the
    1-9  inmate is on furlough or reprieve, unless the state contracts in
   1-10  writing with the entity rendering the service for or to the inmate.
   1-11  A contract is valid only if it specifies the service to be rendered
   1-12  and the cost to be incurred by the state is approved by the state
   1-13  prior to rendition of the service.
   1-14        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   1-15        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-16  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-17  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-18  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-19  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-20  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   1-21  passage, and it is so enacted.