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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a female inmate's access to programs offered to inmates |
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of the Texas Department 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 A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 501.026 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.026. ACCESS TO PROGRAMS BY FEMALE INMATES. (a) |
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The department shall develop and implement policies that increase |
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and promote a female inmate's access to programs offered to inmates |
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in the custody of the department, including educational, |
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vocational, substance use treatment, rehabilitation, life skills |
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training, and prerelease programs. The department may not reduce |
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or limit a male inmate's access to a program to meet the |
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requirements of this section. |
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(b) Not later than December 31 of each year, the department |
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shall: |
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(1) prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, each |
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standing committee of the legislature having primary jurisdiction |
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over the department, and the reentry task force described by |
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Section 501.098 a written report that includes: |
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(A) a description of any department policies that |
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were created, modified, or eliminated during the preceding year to |
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meet the requirements of this section; and |
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(B) a list of programs available to female |
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inmates in the custody of the department during the preceding year; |
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and |
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(2) publish the report on the department's Internet |
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website. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall develop |
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and implement the policies required by Section 501.026, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall |
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submit the first report required by Section 501.026, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 31, 2020. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |