H.B. No. 28 




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.




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 28 was passed by the House on April 3, 
2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 0, 2 present, not 
voting.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	I certify that H.B. No. 28 was passed by the Senate on May 27, 
2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Secretary of the Senate    



APPROVED:  _____________________                                            
 
                   Date                                                      




 
          _____________________                                          
 
                 Governor