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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the availability of and access to certain programs and |
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services for persons in the custody of the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 493.032 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 493.032. AVAILABILITY OF PEER SUPPORT SERVICES. (a) |
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The department shall adopt a policy to increase the availability of |
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formal and informal peer support services, including certified peer |
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specialist services, to a person confined in a facility operated by |
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or under contract with the department, including a state jail |
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felony facility, substance abuse felony punishment facility, or |
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intermediate sanction facility. |
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(b) The policy adopted under Subsection (a) must: |
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(1) allow for persons who have previously been |
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convicted of an offense, including releasees on parole or mandatory |
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supervision and defendants on community supervision, to serve as |
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certified peer specialists in a facility described by Subsection |
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(a); |
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(2) specify the conditions under which a person |
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described by Subdivision (1) may serve as a certified peer |
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specialist; and |
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(3) allow for persons confined in a facility described |
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by Subsection (a) to serve in a peer support role, provided that the |
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persons are trained and supervised by a community-based |
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organization described by Subsection (c). |
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(c) In implementing the policy adopted under Subsection |
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(a), the department shall: |
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(1) collaborate with community-based organizations |
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that provide peer specialist training, including training in any of |
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the following peer support specialties: |
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(A) certified peer specialist; |
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(B) certified peer reentry specialist; |
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(C) certified peer recovery specialist; or |
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(D) any other peer support specialty recognized |
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by the Health and Human Services Commission; and |
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(2) encourage and assist persons described by |
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Subsection (b)(3), with particular emphasis on persons who have |
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been involved with programs or services relating to substance abuse |
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or behavioral health, to participate in training described by |
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Subdivision (1). |
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SECTION 2. 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 3. Not later than September 1, 2020, the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice shall adopt and implement the policy |
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required by Section 493.032, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall |
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develop and implement the policies required by Section 501.026, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall submit |
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the first report required by Section 501.026, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, not later than December 31, 2020. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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* * * * * |