75R11371 GWK-F                           

         By Jones of Dallas, Kamel                              H.B. No. 917

         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 917:

         By Edwards                                         C.S.H.B. No. 917

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to contracts for inmate labor entered into by the Texas

 1-3     Department of Criminal Justice that provide inmates with access to

 1-4     personal information about persons who are not confined.

 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 497, Government Code, is

 1-7     amended by adding Section 497.011 to read as follows:

 1-8           Sec. 497.011.  CERTAIN CONTRACTS PROHIBITED; SEARCHES.

 1-9     (a)  The department may not enter into a contract with a private

1-10     business or public entity that requires or permits an inmate

1-11     confined in a correctional facility operated by  or for the

1-12     department who is serving a sentence for an offense for which a

1-13     defendant is required to register as a sex offender under Article

1-14     6252-13c.1, Revised Statutes, to have access to personal

1-15     information about persons who are not confined in facilities

1-16     operated by or for the department.

1-17           (b)  If the department enters into a contract with a private

1-18     business or public entity that requires or permits an inmate

1-19     confined in a correctional facility operated by  or for the

1-20     department to have access to personal information about persons who

1-21     are not confined in facilities operated by or for the department,

1-22     the department shall on each occasion in which an inmate enters or

1-23     leaves the work area require the inmate to submit to a personal

1-24     search by department personnel.

 2-1           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-2           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.