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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the efficient use by the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice of county jail beds provided by contract between the |
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department and counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 499, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 499.029 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 499.029. INVENTORY OF AVAILABLE COUNTY JAIL BEDS; |
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SUITABILITY OF INMATES FOR TRANSFER. (a) The department shall |
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develop a policy that provides the department with a method for |
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projecting for each calendar year the number of county jail beds, to |
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be provided by contracts between the department and commissioners |
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courts, that are available to the department for the confinement of |
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inmates in the custody of the department. |
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(b) The department shall develop a policy to determine which |
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inmates in the custody of the department are the best candidates for |
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confinement in county jail beds provided by contracts between the |
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department and commissioners courts. In developing the policy, the |
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department shall consider criminal history, physical and mental |
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health history, and the conduct of inmates while confined. |
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(c) To the greatest extent possible, the department shall |
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diminish the effect of overcrowding in the department by confining |
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inmates in county jail beds provided by contract between the |
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department and commissioners courts, placing in those beds those |
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inmates who are suitable for confinement in those facilities and do |
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not by virtue of their placement constitute a threat to public |
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safety. |
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(d) The Commission on Jail Standards shall assist the |
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department as necessary for the development of policies under this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall |
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develop policies required by Section 499.029, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2008. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |