By Danburg                                             H.B. No. 126

      75R1014 GWK-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the time of the day and the day of the week on which a

 1-3     correctional facility may release an inmate.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by

 1-6     adding Section 493.025 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 493.025.  RELEASE OF INMATES DURING BUSINESS HOURS.  The

 1-8     department may release an inmate from the custody of the department

 1-9     only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and only on a weekday

1-10     other than a weekday that is a state or national holiday.

1-11           SECTION 2.  Chapter 361, Local Government Code, is amended by

1-12     adding Subchapter G to read as follows:

1-13           SUBCHAPTER G.  RELEASE OF INMATES DURING BUSINESS HOURS

1-14           Sec. 361.091.  A municipal or county jail may release an

1-15     inmate who has discharged the inmate's sentence from the custody of

1-16     the jail only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and only on a

1-17     weekday other than a weekday that is a state or national holiday.

1-18           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-19           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.