H.B. No. 3227
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the availability of and access to certain programs and
  services for persons in the custody of the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Section 493.032 to read as follows:
         Sec. 493.032.  AVAILABILITY OF PEER SUPPORT SERVICES. (a)
  The department shall adopt a policy to increase the availability of
  formal and informal peer support services, including certified peer
  specialist services, to a person confined in a facility operated by
  or under contract with the department, including a state jail
  felony facility, substance abuse felony punishment facility, or
  intermediate sanction facility.
         (b)  The policy adopted under Subsection (a) must:
               (1)  allow for persons who have previously been
  convicted of an offense, including releasees on parole or mandatory
  supervision and defendants on community supervision, to serve as
  certified peer specialists in a facility described by Subsection
  (a);
               (2)  specify the conditions under which a person
  described by Subdivision (1) may serve as a certified peer
  specialist; and
               (3)  allow for persons confined in a facility described
  by Subsection (a) to serve in a peer support role, provided that the
  persons are trained and supervised by a community-based
  organization described by Subsection (c).
         (c)  In implementing the policy adopted under Subsection
  (a), the department shall:
               (1)  collaborate with community-based organizations
  that provide peer specialist training, including training in any of
  the following peer support specialties:
                     (A)  certified peer specialist;
                     (B)  certified peer reentry specialist;
                     (C)  certified peer recovery specialist; or
                     (D)  any other peer support specialty recognized
  by the Health and Human Services Commission; and
               (2)  encourage and assist persons described by
  Subsection (b)(3), with particular emphasis on persons who have
  been involved with programs or services relating to substance abuse
  or behavioral health, to participate in training described by
  Subdivision (1).
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 501.026 to read as follows:
         Sec. 501.026.  ACCESS TO PROGRAMS BY FEMALE INMATES. (a)
  The department shall develop and implement policies that increase
  and promote a female inmate's access to programs offered to inmates
  in the custody of the department, including educational,
  vocational, substance use treatment, rehabilitation, life skills
  training, and prerelease programs. The department may not reduce
  or limit a male inmate's access to a program to meet the
  requirements of this section.
         (b)  Not later than December 31 of each year, the department
  shall:
               (1)  prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant
  governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, each
  standing committee of the legislature having primary jurisdiction
  over the department, and the reentry task force described by
  Section 501.098 a written report that includes:
                     (A)  a description of any department policies that
  were created, modified, or eliminated during the preceding year to
  meet the requirements of this section; and
                     (B)  a list of programs available to female
  inmates in the custody of the department during the preceding year;
  and
               (2)  publish the report on the department's Internet
  website.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than September 1, 2020, the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice shall adopt and implement the policy
  required by Section 493.032, Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective
  date of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall
  develop and implement the policies required by Section 501.026,
  Government Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall submit
  the first report required by Section 501.026, Government Code, as
  added by this Act, not later than December 31, 2020.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3227 was passed by the House on April
  17, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 3227 on May 24, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 2,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3227 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor