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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 936

By: Canales

Corrections

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Concerns have been raised that the lack of standard temperature requirements for Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) facilities poses serious health risks to the inmates who are housed in these facilities and has contributed to high turnover rates for TDCJ employees. In response to these concerns, it has been suggested that more information is needed in order for TDCJ to address this issue in the most effective and cost‑efficient manner. C.S.H.B. 936 provides for a study on reducing the air temperature in TDCJ facilities.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 936 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to contract with a qualified independent vendor to conduct a study on reducing the air temperature in facilities operated by TDCJ and sets out the required components of the study. The bill requires TDCJ, not later than August 31, 2020, to prepare and submit a written report that summarizes the results of the study to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature having primary jurisdiction over TDCJ. The bill's provisions expire January 1, 2021.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 936 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

The substitute includes provisions relating to a study on reducing the level at which the air temperature in facilities operated by TDCJ is regulated and does not include any provisions from the original, which requires TDCJ to maintain the temperature of a facility within a specified range.