BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1763
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Since 1983, the Commission on Jail Standards has maintained and established, as a rule, a 1:48 ratio for officers to inmates. This ratio has been incorporated as a mechanism to ensure that adequate levels of safety and security in a jail setting are obtained. When inadequate staffing ratios occur, working conditions for employees can become dangerous and stressful, thereby exacerbating employee turnover and ultimately creating liability issues for both employees and the county.
As proposed, S.B. 1763 requires the sheriff to ensure that at least one correctional officer is stationed on each floor of a county jail for every 48 prisoners housed on that floor.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 351, Local Government Code, by adding Section 351.005, as follows:
Sec. 351.005. RATIO OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TO PRISONERS. (a) Requires the sheriff to ensure that at least one correctional officer is stationed on each floor of a county jail on which 10 or more prisoners are housed; at least one correctional officer is stationed on each floor of a county jail for every 48 prisoners housed on that floor; and that sufficient supervisors and other essential personnel are present at the county jail to perform the functions required by the Commission on Jail Standards.
(b) Requires the commissioners court to provide the sheriff with resources necessary to ensure that staffing requirements imposed by Subsection (a) are met.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.