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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to programs provided by volunteer organizations to inmates |
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in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 501.009, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.009. VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS; REPORT. (a) The |
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department shall adopt a policy that requires each warden to |
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identify [actively encourage] volunteer and faith-based |
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organizations that [to] provide [the following] programs for |
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inmates housed in facilities operated by the department. The |
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policy must require each warden to actively encourage volunteer and |
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faith-based organizations to provide the following programs for |
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inmates in the warden's facility: |
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(1) literacy and education programs; |
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(2) life skills programs; |
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(3) job skills programs; |
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(4) parent-training programs; |
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(5) drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs; |
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(6) support group programs; |
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(7) arts and crafts programs; and |
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(8) other programs determined by the department to aid |
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inmates in the transition between confinement and society and to |
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reduce incidence of recidivism among inmates. |
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(b) The policy must require that each warden submit a report |
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to the board not later than December 31 of each year that includes, |
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for the preceding fiscal year, a summary of: |
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(1) the programs provided to inmates under this |
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section; and |
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(2) the actions taken by the warden to identify |
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volunteer and faith-based |
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organizations willing to provide |
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programs to inmates and to encourage those organizations to provide |
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programs in the warden's facility. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2013, the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice shall adopt the policy, including a |
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schedule for implementing the policy, required by Section 501.009, |
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Government Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |