| TO: | Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3654 by Marquez (Relating to certain duties of and reports submitted to the Commission on Jail Standards regarding county jail inmates who are pregnant.), As Engrossed |
The bill would amend Government Code, Section 511.009(a) to require the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to adopt reasonable rules and procedures establishing minimum requirements for county jails to determine if a prisoner is pregnant and ensure the jail’s health care plan addresses medical and mental health, including nutritional requirements, and any special housing or work assignment needs for persons who are confined in a county jail and are known or determined to be pregnant.
The bill also amends Government Code, Section 511.0101(a) to require counties to submit to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards monthly the number of offenders confined in the county jail who are known to be pregnant.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards does not foresee significant costs to local county governments as jail standards require counties to submit and follow a health services plan for all inmates including pregnant inmates and further requires jails to follow all orders of designated physicians.
| Source Agencies: | 409 Commission on Jail Standards
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, ESi, GG, MC
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