By: Hodge H.B. No. 28
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to rehabilitation programs for defendants housed in state
jail felony facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 507, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 507.033 to read as follows:
Sec. 507.033. REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. (a) The state jail
division may allow a defendant who is capable of serving as a tutor
to tutor functionally illiterate defendants and shall actively
encourage volunteer organizations to aid in the tutoring of
defendants. A person who acts as a tutor may function only as a
teacher and advisor to a defendant and may not exercise supervisory
authority or control over the defendant.
(b) The state jail division shall actively encourage
volunteer organizations to provide the following programs for
defendants who are housed in facilities operated by or under
contract with the division:
(1) literacy and education programs;
(2) life skills programs;
(3) job skills programs;
(4) parent-training programs;
(5) drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs;
(6) support group programs;
(7) arts and crafts programs; and
(8) other programs determined by the division to aid
defendants confined in state jail felony facilities in the
transition from confinement or supervision back into society and to
reduce incidents of recidivism among defendants.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.