| TO: | Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1944 by Coleman (Relating to the elimination of sexual assault against inmates confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted |
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Government Code by requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to appoint an ombudsperson to coordinate TDCJ’s efforts to eliminate the occurrence of sexual assault in correctional facilities. The bill further provides the duties and responsibilities of the ombudsperson, including that TDCJ shall adopt policies to administer the program in each facility. Policies shall address inmate confidentially, safety, and medical treatment and evidence collection. No later than December 1, 2008, TDCJ shall appoint an ombudsperson. The bill specifies that not later than January 1, 2009, the ombudsperson would be required to submit the first written report regarding the activities during the preceding year. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has determined that the cost of implementing the bill would not be significant.
| Source Agencies: | 696 Department of Criminal Justice
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, ES, GG, SDO
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