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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of services to a wrongfully imprisoned |
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person who is discharged from a correctional facility. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 501.091 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.091. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR WRONGFULLY |
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IMPRISONED PERSONS WHO ARE DISCHARGED. (a) In this section, |
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"wrongfully imprisoned person" means a person who: |
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(1) has served in whole or in part a sentence in a |
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facility operated by or under contract with the department; and |
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(2) has: |
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(A) received a pardon for innocence for the crime |
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for which the person was sentenced; or |
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(B) otherwise been granted relief on the basis of |
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actual innocence of the crime for which the person was sentenced. |
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(b) The department shall ensure that the same programs and |
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services that are available to or in which participation is |
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mandatory for an inmate released on parole or to mandatory |
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supervision, including programs and services offered or required |
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under Subchapter F or G of Chapter 508, are available to a |
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wrongfully imprisoned person when the person is discharged from the |
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department. |
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(c) The executive director of the department may: |
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(1) adopt rules as necessary to implement this |
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section; and |
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(2) direct the director of the Texas Correctional |
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Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments to take any |
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actions necessary to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2009. |