By West H.B. No. 123 77R751 GWK-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a requirement that inmates of the Texas Department of 1-3 Criminal Justice participate in educational programs. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 501.0051 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 501.0051. EDUCATION REQUIRED. (a) The department shall 1-8 require an inmate who does not hold a high school diploma or 1-9 general equivalency certificate to participate in available 1-10 educational programming designed to help the inmate to earn a 1-11 general equivalency certificate. 1-12 (b) This section does not apply to an inmate confined on 1-13 death row or confined in administrative segregation or close 1-14 custody. The department may waive the educational requirement 1-15 imposed by this section on an inmate if the department determines 1-16 that the inmate lacks the learning ability to earn a certificate. 1-17 (c) The department may limit participation in an educational 1-18 program based on the capacity of the program and may assign inmates 1-19 to participate on the basis of the inmates' release dates, using 1-20 the department's individualized treatment plans. 1-21 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.