SRC-JBJ H.B. 127 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 127
76R431 GWK-DBy: McClendon (Armbrister)
Criminal Justice
4/19/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Department Criminal Justice (TDCJ) contracts with
agencies and local governments to provide inmate labor to those agencies
and governments.  In 1997, Texas inmates performed more than 3 million
hours of work on public projects.  H.B. 127 would require TDCJ seeking to
employ inmate labor to give priority to service projects that benefit the
public. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 127 requires the department seeking to employ inmate
labor to give priority to projects that benefit the public. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 497.091(b), Government Code, to require the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice to give priority to the use of inmate
labor while seeking contracts for service projects that benefit the public,
when seeking contracts with agencies and local governments to provide
inmate labor. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage.