H.B. No. 374

AN ACT

relating to meetings or visits between a defendant on community supervision and a supervision officer.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 76, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 76.019 to read as follows:

Sec. 76.019. SUPERVISION OFFICER MEETINGS AND VISITS. (a) A department shall adopt a policy regarding the scheduling of meetings or visits with a defendant placed on community supervision and supervised by the department. The policy must require the officer supervising the defendant to take into consideration the defendant's work, treatment, or community service schedule, as applicable, when scheduling any required meetings or visits.

(b) A department may permit a defendant to report to the officer supervising the defendant by use of videoconference technology if the department determines that an in-person meeting or visit is unnecessary.

SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2020, each community supervision and corrections department shall adopt the policy required by Section 76.019, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 374 was passed by the House on April 2, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 5, 1 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 374 on May 10, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 106, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 374 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 1, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

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Governor