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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of special monitors for the Commission on |
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Jail Standards. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 511.0091, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows: |
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(e) In addition to the other fees authorized by this |
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section, the commission may: |
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(1) set a reasonable fee to cover the cost of any |
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review and monitoring of a correctional facility conducted by a |
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special monitor with whom the commission contracts under Section |
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511.018; and |
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(2) collect on a monthly basis the fee set under |
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Subdivision (1) from each county or municipality with a |
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correctional facility that was under review or monitoring by a |
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special monitor during any period of the month, regardless of |
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whether the correctional facility is purchased, designed, |
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constructed, leased, operated, maintained, or managed by a private |
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vendor on behalf of the county or municipality or operated entirely |
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by the county or municipality. |
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(f) Out of the fees collected under Subsection (e), the |
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commission: |
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(1) shall compensate a special monitor in accordance |
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with the terms of the commission's contract with the monitor under |
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Section 511.018; and |
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(2) may retain not more than two percent of the fees |
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collected to pay costs incurred by the commission in administering |
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Section 511.018. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 511.018 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 511.018. SPECIAL MONITORS. (a) The executive |
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director shall select persons with whom the commission shall |
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contract to serve as special monitors for the commission. The |
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commission shall provide training and supervision for persons with |
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whom the commission contracts under this subsection. |
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(b) In selecting persons with whom the commission contracts |
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under Subsection (a), the executive director shall: |
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(1) select persons who are not employees of the |
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commission or a correctional facility; |
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(2) comply with any applicable requirement or standard |
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established by the Texas Building and Procurement Commission; and |
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(3) use criteria related to the nature of the |
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deficiency that resulted in the facility's report of noncompliance. |
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(c) A contract entered under this section must: |
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(1) set an amount of monthly compensation to be paid to |
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the special monitor; and |
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(2) expire on the 90th day after the date the |
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correctional facility under review and monitoring by the special |
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monitor is certified by the commission to comply with all |
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applicable state laws and minimum standards adopted by the |
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commission. |
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(d) A special monitor shall: |
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(1) review and monitor the conditions in a |
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correctional facility that has failed three consecutive annual |
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inspections under this chapter; |
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(2) ensure that a correctional facility described by |
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Subdivision (1) is taking adequate measures to remedy any |
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deficiency that resulted in the facility's report of noncompliance; |
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(3) suggest to a correctional facility described by |
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Subdivision (1) additional measures the facility could take to |
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remedy any deficiency described by Subdivision (2); |
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(4) provide to a correctional facility under review by |
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the special monitor a quarterly report concerning the status and |
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progress of the review; and |
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(5) provide to the commission at each regular |
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quarterly commission meeting a status report concerning each |
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facility under review with the special monitor. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |