| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to minimum compensation for inmates participating in |
|
|
certain work programs. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 497.004(a), Government Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) The board shall [may] develop by rule and the department |
|
|
shall [may] administer an incentive pay scale for work program |
|
|
participants consistent with rules adopted by the board under |
|
|
Subchapter C. The board shall set pay levels at a minimum of $1 per |
|
|
day of work. Prison industries may be financed through |
|
|
contributions donated for this purpose by private businesses |
|
|
contracting with the department. The department shall apportion |
|
|
pay earned by a work program participant in the same manner as is |
|
|
required by rules adopted by the board under Section 497.0581. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 497.099(b), Government Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) The board shall [may] develop by rule and the department |
|
|
shall [may] administer an incentive pay scale program for inmates |
|
|
required to work in agricultural, industrial, or other work |
|
|
programs. In developing the program, the board shall set pay levels |
|
|
not to unjustly reward inmates, but rather to instruct inmates on |
|
|
the virtues of diligent participation in the workplace, provided |
|
|
that the board shall set pay levels at a minimum of $1 per day of |
|
|
work. The department shall deposit an amount earned by an inmate |
|
|
under this subsection into the inmate's trust fund and may deduct |
|
|
not more than 80 percent of the amount deposited under this |
|
|
subsection for payment of restitution and dependent care owed by |
|
|
the inmate. This subsection does not apply to the compensation of |
|
|
an inmate participating in a Texas Correctional Industries program |
|
|
under Subchapter A or an inmate participating in a private sector |
|
|
prison industries program under Subchapter C. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2019, the Texas Board |
|
|
of Criminal Justice shall adopt the rules required by Sections |
|
|
497.004(a) and 497.099(b), Government Code, as amended by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |