BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         S.B. 932
                                                    By: Wentworth
                                                 Criminal Justice
                                                          5-12-95
                                     Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Many state and county prisons and jails have weight-lifting
equipment and accessories available for inmates to use. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 932 prohibits inmates in the institutional
division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice from using
weight-lifting equipment while incarcerated.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 493, Government Code, by adding Section
493.014, as follows:

     Sec. 493.014.  WEIGHT-LIFTING EQUIPMENT.  (a)  Prohibits the
     Texas Department of Criminal Justice (department) from
     allowing an inmate or defendant confined in a facility
     operated by the department access to weight-lifting equipment
     or accessories.  Requires the department to inform each entity
     contracting with the department for the operation or
     management of a facility that inmates confined in the facility
     are not permitted to have access to weight-lifting equipment
     or accessories.
     
     (b)  Requires the department to notify the General Services
       Commission that all weight-lifting equipment and accessories
       owned by the department are surplus property to be disposed
       of as provided by Article 9, Article 601b, V.T.C.S., except
       that proceeds received from disposition of the equipment and
       accessories under this section may be used only to pay cost
       incurred by the department in providing other recreational
       facilities and equipment to inmates and defendants in the
       custody of the department.
       
SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 351C, Local Government Code, by adding
Section 351.045, as follows:

     Sec. 351.045.  WEIGHT-LIFTING EQUIPMENT.  Prohibits the
     sheriff or jail administrator, as appropriate, from allowing
     a prisoner committed to the county jail access to weight-lifting equipment or accessories.
     
SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 351, Local Government Code, by adding
Section 351.105, as follows:

     Sec. 351.105.  WEIGHT-LIFTING EQUIPMENT.  Authorizes the
     sheriff to approve a contract to operate a facility under
     Section 351.101 or Section 351.102 only if the contract
     provides that the private vendor may not allow a prisoner
     confined in the facility access to weight-lifting equipment or
     accessories.
     
SECTION 4. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.