BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                         H.B. 47

80R1006 HLT-D                                                                                    By: Hodge et al. (Hinojosa)

                                                                                                                                   Criminal Justice

                                                                                                                                            5/17/2007

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law states that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) shall not provide in-cell tutoring for inmates who are in administrative segregation.  Offenders housed in administrative segregation are often there due to gang affiliation, and can be discharged back into the community directly from administrative segregation.

 

H.B. 47 authorizes TDCJ to establish a policy to provide in-cell education for administrative segregation offenders if the offender would benefit from the education and if the education can be provided without posing a threat to staff or an inmate.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, by adding Section 501.020, as follows:

 

Sec. 501.020.  IN-CELL EDUCATION.  Authorizes the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to establish a policy to provide in-cell education to an inmate confined in administrative segregation if the inmate would benefit from the education and the education can be provided to the inmate in a way that does not pose a threat to the health or safety of any TDCJ staff or other inmate.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.