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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to use of certain electronic monitoring technology in |
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certain correctional facilities by the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 494, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 494.0111 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 494.0111. RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION ELECTRONIC |
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MONITORING SYSTEMS. (a) In this section, "radio frequency |
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identification electronic monitoring system" means an electronic |
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monitoring system that: |
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(1) tracks in real time the location of a person |
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wearing a remote transmitter through the constant sending and |
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receiving of signals between a centralized monitoring center and |
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the remote transmitter; |
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(2) is compatible with the wireless transmission of |
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information and has sufficient bandwidth to support additional |
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wireless networking devices; and |
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(3) is capable of: |
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(A) using an encrypted bar code or similar unique |
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identification label to track pharmaceuticals, meals, and other |
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goods provided to inmates by the department; |
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(B) serving as a time-keeping system for |
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individuals who wear a transmitter; |
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(C) recording an inmate's attendance at a program |
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or class the inmate is required to attend; and |
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(D) recording information that may be stored for |
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at least six months. |
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(b) In any correctional facility the construction of which |
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begins on or after September 1, 2007, the department shall ensure |
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that the correctional facility is designed and built to use a radio |
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frequency identification electronic monitoring system to monitor |
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effectively and efficiently the physical location and safety of: |
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(1) all inmates housed by the department in the |
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facility; |
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(2) all employees of the department working in the |
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facility; |
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(3) all third-party vendors or other contractors who |
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work in the facility; and |
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(4) all visitors to the facility who are granted |
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access to areas of the facility to which only employees are normally |
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admitted. |
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(c) In any correctional facility the construction of which |
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began before September 1, 2007, the department may retrofit the |
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correctional facility to use a radio frequency identification |
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electronic monitoring system to monitor effectively and |
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efficiently the physical location and safety of: |
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(1) all inmates housed by the department in the |
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facility; |
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(2) all employees of the department working in the |
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facility; |
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(3) all third-party vendors or other contractors who |
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work in the facility; and |
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(4) all visitors to the facility who are granted |
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access to areas of the facility to which only employees are normally |
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admitted. |
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(d) The department shall require all individuals described |
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by Subsections (b) and (c) to wear radio frequency identification |
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transmitters while they are housed, working in, or visiting a |
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facility that is designed and built or retrofitted to use a radio |
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frequency identification electronic monitoring system. |
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(e) A radio frequency identification transmitter provided |
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to an individual other than an inmate must enable the individual to |
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summon assistance or report an emergency by pushing a button on the |
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transmitter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |