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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of reentry, reintegration, and other |
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services to a wrongfully imprisoned person who is discharged from a |
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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. REENTRY AND REINTEGRATION SERVICES FOR |
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WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED PERSONS. (a) In this section, "wrongfully |
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imprisoned person" means a person who: |
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(1) has served wholly or partly 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 develop a comprehensive plan to |
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ensure the successful reentry and reintegration of wrongfully |
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imprisoned persons into the community following discharge from the |
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department. The reentry and reintegration plan developed under |
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this section must include: |
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(1) life-skills, job, and vocational training for a |
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wrongfully imprisoned person following discharge, for as long as |
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those services are beneficial to the person; |
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(2) a requirement that the department provide, before |
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a wrongfully imprisoned person is discharged from the department, |
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the person with any documents that are necessary after discharge, |
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including a state identification card; and |
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(3) the provision of financial assistance to aid a |
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wrongfully imprisoned person in the reentry and reintegration |
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process and in covering living expenses following discharge, in an |
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amount not to exceed $10,000. |
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(c) The amount of financial assistance provided to a |
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wrongfully imprisoned person under Subsection (b)(3) shall be |
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deducted from: |
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(1) the amount of compensation provided to the person |
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under Section 103.052, Civil Practice and Remedies Code; or |
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(2) any damages awarded to the person under Section |
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103.105 of that code. |
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(d) The department may contract with private vendors or |
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other entities to implement the comprehensive reentry and |
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reintegration plan required by this section. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 614, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 614.021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 614.021. SERVICES FOR WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED PERSONS. |
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(a) In this section, "wrongfully imprisoned person" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 501.091, Government Code. |
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(b) The office shall develop a plan for meeting the |
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long-term treatment and rehabilitative needs of wrongfully |
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imprisoned persons who are discharged from the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice. The plan must provide for: |
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(1) medical care and mental health services, including |
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related counseling services, to be provided to a wrongfully |
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imprisoned person at no cost to the person for the remainder of the |
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person's lifetime; and |
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(2) dental services to be provided to the person at no |
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cost to a wrongfully imprisoned person for two years following the |
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date of the person's discharge. |
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(c) The office shall distribute to state agencies, |
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political subdivisions, private organizations, and other qualified |
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persons money appropriated by the legislature to be used for the |
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development, operation, provision, and evaluation of medical, |
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mental health, dental, and counseling services for wrongfully |
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imprisoned persons under this section. |
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SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall |
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develop a comprehensive plan for the reentry and reintegration of |
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wrongfully imprisoned persons as required by Section 501.091, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this |
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Act, the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or |
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Mental Impairments shall develop a plan for meeting the long-term |
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treatment and rehabilitative needs of wrongfully imprisoned |
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persons as required by Section 614.021, Health and Safety Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. 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. |
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