SRC-JJJ H.B. 2469 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2469 76R10114 GWK-FBy: Ramsay (Shapiro) Criminal Justice 5/11/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, the laws affecting jails differentiate between existing and new facilities. H.B. 2469 would clarify issues affecting new construction and is consistent with past interpretation of statutes as standards for new construction were promulgated. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2469 establishes conditions regarding facilities requirements for county jails. 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 Sections 351.007(a) and (b), Local Government Code, to require a county jail cell designed for one person to have a clear floor area of 40 square feet or more. Requires any other housing area or day room, rather than cell, compartment, or dormitory, in a county jail to have a clear floor area of 18 square feet or more for each prisoner to be confined in the area or room. Deletes text regarding a safety vestibule. SECTION 2. Amends Section 351.011(b), Local Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 3. Amends Section 351.012(a), Local Government Code, to require certain conditions to exist for a day room designed in a county jail for three or more prisoners, including specific requirements for every eight prisoners confined in a room. Makes a nonsubstantive change. SECTION 4. Amends Section 351.014(d), Local Government Code, to delete text regarding a requirement for a hammock. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 5. Amends Section 351.101, Local Government Code, to delete text regarding low risk county inmates. SECTION 6. Makes application of this Act prospective to a county jail whose initial construction was begun on or before December 23, 1976. SECTION 7. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 8. Emergency clause.