By Raymond H.B. No. 2237
74R7269 NSC-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to creating an interim committee to study the feasibility
1-3 of establishing a privately operated telephone service for inmates
1-4 and defendants confined in facilities operated by the Texas
1-5 Department of Criminal Justice.
1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-7 SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
1-8 adding Section 493.015 to read as follows:
1-9 Sec. 493.015. INTERIM COMMITTEE ON INMATE TELEPHONE SERVICE.
1-10 (a) The interim committee on inmate telephone service is
1-11 established.
1-12 (b) The committee includes:
1-13 (1) a representative appointed by the governor, the
1-14 lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
1-15 representatives;
1-16 (2) a representative of the comptroller appointed by
1-17 the comptroller; and
1-18 (3) the following members appointed by the executive
1-19 director:
1-20 (A) a representative of the department;
1-21 (B) a representative of private vendors for
1-22 telephone service; and
1-23 (C) a representative of a crime victims'
1-24 organization.
2-1 (c) The committee shall study and determine the feasibility,
2-2 costs, and benefits of establishing a telephone service for inmates
2-3 and defendants confined in facilities operated by the department
2-4 that:
2-5 (A) is installed, operated, and maintained by a
2-6 private vendor without any cost to the state;
2-7 (B) generates reports to department personnel on
2-8 inmate or defendant calling patterns;
2-9 (C) provides on-site monitoring of calling
2-10 patterns and customizes technology to provide adequate system
2-11 security;
2-12 (D) is fully automated and does not require a
2-13 department operator;
2-14 (E) has the capability to limit the duration and
2-15 frequency of calls to detect and prevent excessive use of the
2-16 system by an inmate or defendant and to reduce the likelihood of a
2-17 significant financial burden on an inmate's or defendant's family;
2-18 (F) pays the department a reasonable commission
2-19 based on the total amount billed for inmate or defendant telephone
2-20 usage;
2-21 (G) uses a digital recording system; and
2-22 (H) provides for the use of published tariffs.
2-23 (d) The committee shall hold public hearings in conducting
2-24 the study described by Subsection (c).
2-25 (e) The committee may implement a pilot program to provide
2-26 the telephone service described by Subsection (c).
2-27 (f) The department may not establish the telephone service
3-1 described by Subsection (c), unless the service is a pilot program
3-2 implemented by the committee.
3-3 (g) Not later than January 15, 1997, the committee shall
3-4 submit a report that contains the findings of the committee's study
3-5 to the 75th Legislature.
3-6 (h) This section expires September 1, 1997.
3-7 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
3-8 SECTION 3. The executive director of the Texas Department of
3-9 Criminal Justice, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
3-10 speaker of the house of representatives, and the comptroller shall
3-11 appoint representatives to the interim committee on inmate
3-12 telephone service, as provided by Section 493.015, Government Code,
3-13 as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 1996.
3-14 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.