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78R416 GWK-F

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 shall establish a program to teach reading to functionally 
illiterate defendants housed in facilities operated by or under 
contract with the division.  The division shall 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.  The division, 
the defendant to be tutored, and the person who tutors the defendant 
jointly shall establish reading goals for the defendant to be 
tutored.  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, the Texas Department of Mental 
Health and Mental Retardation, and the Texas Commission on Alcohol 
and Drug Abuse by rule shall adopt a memorandum of understanding 
that establishes their respective responsibilities to establish a 
continuity of care program for defendants with a history of drug or 
alcohol abuse who are housed in facilities operated by or under 
contract with the division.
	(c)  The state jail division and the Texas Workforce 
Commission by rule shall adopt a memorandum of understanding that 
establishes their respective responsibilities to establish a 
continuity of care program for defendants with a history of chronic 
unemployment who are housed in facilities operated by or under 
contract with the division.
	(d)  The state jail division and the Texas Workforce 
Commission by rule shall adopt a memorandum of understanding that 
establishes their respective responsibilities for providing 
defendants who are housed in facilities operated by or under 
contract with the division and who are released into the community 
with a network of centers designed to provide education, 
employment, and other support services based on a "one stop for 
service" approach.
	(e)  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.  (a) The state jail division of the Texas 
Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Department of Mental 
Health and Mental Retardation, and the Texas Commission on Alcohol 
and Drug Abuse shall enter into the memoranda of understanding 
required by Section 507.033(b), Government Code, as added by this 
Act, not later than January 1, 2004.
	(b)  The state jail division and the Texas Workforce 
Commission shall enter into the memoranda of understanding required 
by Section 507.033(c), Government Code, as added by this Act, not 
later than January 1, 2004.
	(c)  The state jail division and the Texas Workforce 
Commission shall enter into the memoranda of understanding required 
by Section 507.033(d), Government Code, as added by this Act, not 
later than January 1, 2004.
	SECTION 3.  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.