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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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rela |
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ting to reports regarding the confinement of pregnant prisoners |
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in county jails. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. REPORTS REGARDING PREGNANT PRISONERS. (a) In |
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this Act, "commission" means the Commission on Jail Standards. |
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(b) Not later than September 1, 2016, each sheriff shall |
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report to the commission regarding the implementation in the county |
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jails in the sheriff's county of policies and procedures to provide |
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adequate care to pregnant prisoners confined in the jail. A report |
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to the commission must be on a form prescribed by the commission and |
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include the following: |
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(1) a description of the sheriff's actions to comply |
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with the rules and procedures adopted under Section 511.009(a)(18), |
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Government Code, and any policies adopted by the sheriff regarding |
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the placement of a pregnant prisoner in solitary confinement or |
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administrative segregation; |
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(2) information regarding the health care provided to |
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a pregnant prisoner, including the availability of: |
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(A) obstetrical or gynecological care; |
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(B) prenatal health care visits; |
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(C) mental health care; and |
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(D) drug abuse or chemical dependency treatment; |
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(3) a detailed summary of the following as applicable |
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to pregnant prisoners: |
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(A) nutritional standards, including the average |
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caloric intake of a pregnant prisoner and other dietary |
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information; |
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(B) work assignments; |
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(C) housing conditions; and |
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(D) situations in which a pregnant prisoner has |
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been restrained, including the reason a determination to use |
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restraints was made under Section 361.082, Local Government Code; |
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and |
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(4) the number of miscarriages experienced by pregnant |
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prisoners confined in the jail between September 1, 2015, and the |
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date the report is submitted. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2016, the commission shall |
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compile, analyze, and summarize the information contained in the |
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reports submitted by sheriffs under Subsection (b) of this section. |
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The commission shall provide a copy of the summary to: |
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(A) the governor; |
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(B) the lieutenant governor; |
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(C) the speaker of the house of representatives; |
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and |
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(D) each standing committee of the senate and |
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house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over matters |
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relating to corrections. |
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SECTION 2. ADOPTION OF FORM. As soon as practicable after |
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the effective date of this Act, the commission shall prescribe the |
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form for a report required to be submitted under Section 1 of this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires February 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2015. |