88R20117 MCF-F
 
  By: Allen, et al. H.B. No. 967
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to program accessibility for female inmates of the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 501.027, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 501.027.  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, including
  parenting classes and educational, vocational, substance use
  treatment, rehabilitation, life skills training, and prerelease
  programs, offered to inmates in the custody of the department,
  including programs offered to defendants confined in state jail
  felony facilities [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)  The department shall develop and implement policies
  that:
               (1)  require each facility to make the programs
  described by Subsection (a) available and accessible to a female
  inmate not later than the 45th day after the date the inmate arrives
  at the facility;
               (2)  ensure female inmates have access to program
  opportunities, including master's level education courses, that
  are equitable to the program opportunities that are provided to
  male inmates; and
               (3)  ensure that vocational programs and any related
  certifications are substantively relevant to current workforce
  demands and opportunities.
         (c)  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 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall develop
  and implement the policies necessary to implement the changes in
  law made by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.