SRC-DBM H.B. 134 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 134
By: McClendon (West)
Criminal Justice
5/7/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, employers are required to provide chemical lists and material
safety data sheets to employees, but the law does not require prison
inmates to be trained to use them and to be informed about the safe use of
hazardous chemicals.  H.B. 134 would apply the Hazard Communication Act to
certain inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 134 applies the Hazard Communication Act to certain
inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. 

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 Chapter 502, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
502.020, as follows: 

Sec. 502.020.  APPLICATION TO CERTAIN STATE INMATES.  Requires the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to provide a person imprisoned in a
facility operated by or for TDCJ with the protections from exposure to
hazardous chemicals in the workplace as provided for in this Act, although
a person imprisoned in a facility operated by or for TDCJ is not an
employee for the purposes of this Act. 

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