By West, et al. H.B. No. 279 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a requirement that inmates of the Texas Department of 1-3 Criminal Justice participate in work and educational programs. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 497.090, Government Code, is amended to 1-6 read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 497.090. WORK AND EDUCATION REQUIRED. (a) The 1-8 department shall require each inmate to work in an agricultural, 1-9 industrial, or other work program, to the extent that the inmate is 1-10 physically and mentally capable of working. The department may 1-11 waive the requirement to work, if necessary to maintain security. 1-12 (b) The department shall require an inmate who does not have 1-13 a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma to participate 1-14 in available educational programming designed to help the inmate to 1-15 earn a general equivalency diploma. This requirement does not 1-16 apply to an inmate confined in administrative segregation or close 1-17 custody. The department may waive the requirement upon a 1-18 determination that the inmate lacks the learning ability to earn a 1-19 diploma. The department may limit participation in an educational 1-20 program based on the capacity of the program and may assign inmates 1-21 to participate based upon the proximity of release dates, using the 1-22 department's individualized treatment plan. 1-23 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-4 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-5 passage, and it is so enacted.