78R7550 GWK-D

By:  Allen                                                        H.B. No. 1854



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the participation of inmates in work programs at the 
Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 497, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 497.0031 to read as follows:
	Sec. 497.0031.  CLASSIFICATION; LIMITATION ON USE OF 
FACILITIES.  (a)  The manager of a work facility is a voting member 
of the unit classification committee for the unit in which the work 
facility is located.
	(b)  An inmate who is not classified as a minimum custody 
inmate is not eligible for participation as a work program 
participant.
	(c)  The department may not assign to a work facility work 
program participants in excess of the number determined by the 
manager of the facility to be:
		(1)  necessary to produce a product or provide a 
service; or         
		(2)  the proper number of work program participants to 
engage in a job training program.
	SECTION 2.  Section 497.004(b), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(b)  In assigning work program participants to available job 
training positions in work facilities [factories], the department 
shall consider each participant's [classification and] 
availability for work.  The department shall give priority to work 
program participants closest to release from imprisonment or 
supervision in making assignment to those job training positions 
that provide the most marketable skills.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.