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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to family liaison officers in county jails. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 511.024 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 511.024. FAMILY LIAISON OFFICER. (a) The commission |
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shall require the sheriff of a county to designate at least one |
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employee at the county jail to serve as a family liaison officer for |
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the jail to facilitate communication between prisoners and their |
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families. |
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(b) In making a designation under Subsection (a), the |
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sheriff shall give preference to current employees with experience |
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in social work, psychology, or a related field. |
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(c) A family liaison officer shall: |
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(1) on request, provide prisoners' families with |
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information about the classification status, confinement status, |
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and health of prisoners at the county jail; |
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(2) notify prisoners' families within a reasonable |
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time about emergencies involving prisoners, such as a medical |
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emergency or death; and |
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(3) notify prisoners within a reasonable time about |
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emergencies involving their families, such as a medical emergency |
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or death in the family, and provide prisoners with other necessary |
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information relating to their families. |
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(d) A family liaison officer may not disclose information |
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under Subsection (c) about a prisoner's health unless the prisoner |
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has authorized the release of the prisoner's medical information to |
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that family member. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |