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79R7846 GWK-D

By:  Raymond                                                      H.B. No. 1841



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the efficient use by the Texas Department of Criminal 
Justice of county jail beds provided by contract between the 
department and counties.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 499, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 499.029 to read as follows:
	Sec. 499.029.  INVENTORY OF AVAILABLE COUNTY JAIL BEDS; 
SUITABILITY OF INMATES FOR TRANSFER.  (a)  The department shall 
develop a policy that provides the department with a method for 
projecting for each calendar year the number of county jail beds, to 
be provided by contracts between the department and commissioners 
courts, that are available to the department for the confinement of 
inmates in the custody of the department.
	(b)  The department shall develop a policy to determine which 
inmates in the custody of the department are the best candidates for 
confinement in county jail beds provided by contracts between the 
department and commissioners courts.  In developing the policy, the 
department shall consider criminal history, physical and mental 
health history, and the conduct of inmates while confined.
	(c)  To the greatest extent possible, the department shall 
diminish the effect of overcrowding in the department by confining 
inmates in county jail beds provided by contract between the 
department and county commissioners, placing in those beds those 
inmates who are suitable for confinement in those facilities and do 
not by virtue of their placement constitute a threat to public 
safety.
	(d)  The Commission on Jail Standards shall assist the 
department as necessary for the development of policies under this 
section.
	SECTION 2.  The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall 
develop  policies required by Section 499.029, Government Code, as 
added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2006.
	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, 2005.