BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3114

By: Shine

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In Texas, county jails are required to be constructed for in-person visitation, except for those built for video visitation that were grandfathered into this requirement before September 1, 2015. Jails that allow for video visitation do not have clear direction from current law regarding requirements for the expansion of jail facilities, nor does state law clarify if a previously exempted jail offering video visitation must also add in-person visitation centers when expanding its facilities. There have been calls for further clarification regarding the rules and procedures of the Commission on Jail Standards for prison visitation. H.B. 3114 seeks to provide this clarification.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3114 amends the Government Code to establish that any addition to or renovation of a county jail that is exempt from mandatory compliance with a Commission on Jail Standards rule or procedure establishing minimum standards for prisoner visitation is not required to comply with any such rule or procedure.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.