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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing a veterans reentry program for certain |
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inmates and state jail defendants confined by the Texas Department |
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of Criminal Justice. |
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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 501.0961 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.0961. VETERANS REENTRY DORM PROGRAM. (a) The |
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department shall establish a voluntary reentry and reintegration |
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program for offenders: |
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(1) who are veterans of the United States armed |
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forces, including veterans of the reserves, national guard, or |
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state guard; and |
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(2) who suffer from a brain injury, mental illness, or |
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mental disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder, that: |
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(A) occurred during or resulted from their |
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military service; and |
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(B) may have contributed to their criminal |
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activity. |
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(b) The program must: |
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(1) house offenders participating in the program in |
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housing that is designed to mimic the squadron structure familiar |
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to veterans; |
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(2) provide rehabilitation programming in developing |
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healthy relationships, anger management techniques, and substance |
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abuse treatment; and |
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(3) before releasing or discharging an offender |
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participating in the program from the department, match the |
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offender with a veteran peer coordinator to assist the offender in |
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reintegrating into the community. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |