| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
| |
|
|
relating to providing discharged or released inmates with certain |
|
|
documents, including documents to assist the inmate in obtaining |
|
|
employment. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Sections 501.0155 and 501.0166 to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
Sec. 501.0155. PROVIDING DISCHARGED OR RELEASED INMATE WITH |
|
|
DOCUMENTATION FOR EMPLOYMENT. When an inmate who is able to work, |
|
|
as determined by the department based on the inmate's age or mental |
|
|
or physical condition, is discharged or released on parole, |
|
|
mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon and the intended |
|
|
residence designated by the inmate is in this state, the department |
|
|
shall provide the inmate with relevant documentation to assist the |
|
|
inmate in obtaining post-release employment, including: |
|
|
(1) as applicable, a copy of the inmate's job training |
|
|
record described by Section 497.094 and the inmate's work record |
|
|
described by Section 497.095; and |
|
|
(2) for an inmate who completed a prerelease program |
|
|
required by a parole panel as a condition of release: |
|
|
(A) a resume that includes any trade learned by |
|
|
the inmate and the inmate's proficiency at that trade; and |
|
|
(B) documentation that the inmate has completed a |
|
|
practice job interview. |
|
|
Sec. 501.0166. PROVIDING DISCHARGED OR RELEASED INMATE WITH |
|
|
BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARD. (a) In addition to |
|
|
complying with the requirements of Section 501.0165 regarding a |
|
|
license or personal identification certificate for an inmate being |
|
|
discharged or released on parole, mandatory supervision, or |
|
|
conditional pardon, the department must: |
|
|
(1) determine whether the inmate has a: |
|
|
(A) certified copy of the inmate's birth |
|
|
certificate; and |
|
|
(B) copy of the inmate's social security card; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(2) if the inmate does not have a document described by |
|
|
Subdivision (1), submit to the appropriate entity on behalf of the |
|
|
inmate a request for the issuance of the applicable document. |
|
|
(b) The department shall submit a request under Subsection |
|
|
(a)(2) as soon as is practicable to enable the department to provide |
|
|
the inmate with the applicable document when the department |
|
|
discharges or releases the inmate. |
|
|
(c) This section does not apply to an inmate who: |
|
|
(1) is not legally present in the United States; or |
|
|
(2) was not a resident of this state before the person |
|
|
was placed in the custody of the department. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2020. |
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * * |