SRC-TAG S.B. 1596 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1596
78R7163 GWK-DBy: Hinojosa
Criminal Justice
4/26/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.B. 1596 requires the placement of video cameras in county
jails to monitor specified areas of the jail facility, including suicide
watch cells and common areas.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 351, Local Government Code, by
adding Sections 351.016 and 351.017, as follows:  
 
Sec. 351.016.  VIDEO CAMERA SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.  Requires each county
jail, by June 1, 2008, to install and operate a video camera surveillance
system that records video images in each jail corridor, solitary
confinement cell, suicide watch cell, kitchen, and dining area or other
common area. 

Sec.  351.017.  REPORT TO LEGISLATURE ON SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS.  (a)
Requires the Commission on Jail Standards, by February 1, 2005, to submit
to the presiding officer of each house of the legislature  a report that
describes changes in technology affecting the installation of video camera
surveillance systems described by Section 351.016, sources of revenue
available to counties to pay for the surveillance systems, and areas in
county jails not described by Section 351.016 that nonetheless should be
monitored by surveillance systems. 

  (b)  Provides that this section expires February 2, 2005.

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.