By Jones of Dallas                                     H.B. No. 812
         76R2382 GWK-D                           
                                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 Chapter
1-14     62, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by Chapter 668, Acts of
1-15     the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, to have access to
1-16     personal information about persons who are not confined in
1-17     facilities operated by or for the department.
1-18           (b)  If the department enters into a contract with a private
1-19     business or public entity that requires or permits an inmate
1-20     confined in a correctional facility operated by  or for the
1-21     department to have access to personal information about persons who
1-22     are not confined in facilities operated by or for the department,
1-23     the department shall on each occasion in which an inmate enters or
1-24     leaves the work area require the inmate to submit to a personal
 2-1     search by department personnel.
 2-2           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-3           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.