HBA-SEB S.B. 258 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 258 By: West Public Health 4/20/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, prisoners of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) are not considered to be employees for purposes of the Hazard Communication Act. As a result, inmates are not required to be protected from hazardous chemicals in the workplace. S.B. 258 requires TDCJ to provide protections from exposure to hazardous chemicals to a person imprisoned in a facility operated by or for TDCJ. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 502, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 502.020, as follows: Sec. 502.020. WORKPLACE SAFETY FOR INMATES. Provides that a person imprisoned in a facility operated by or for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is not an employee for the purposes of this chapter (Hazard Communication Act). Requires TDCJ to provide an inmate of TDCJ protection from exposure to hazardous chemicals in the workplace. SECTION 2.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.