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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the access of certain individuals in correctional |
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facilities to certain rehabilitative treatments. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Rehabilitation |
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Access for Security Threat Group Members Act." |
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SECTION 2. FINDINGS. The Legislature finds that: |
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1. Security Threat Groups (STGs) are defined by the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) as groups or associations of |
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inmates whose activities pose a threat to the safety and security of |
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correctional facilities, staff, and the general public. |
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2. Rehabilitation programs are critical to reducing |
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recidivism and promoting successful reintegration into society. |
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3. Offen1ers who have committed crimes related to drug or |
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substance use should have access to rehabilitative programs that |
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directly relate to their crime of conviction, regardless of their |
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STG status. |
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4. Current policies may restrict access to specific |
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rehabilitative programs for STG members, creating barriers to |
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education and treatment directly related to their offense. |
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5. The effective rehabilitation of individuals with |
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substance abuse issues is a key factor in reducing future criminal |
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behavior and promoting safer communities. |
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SECTION 3. AMENDMENT TO TDCJ POLICIES AND PRACTICES: |
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(a) Mandatory Access to Rehabilitative Programs. |
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(1) The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) |
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shall ensure that all inmates, including those classified as |
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members of Security Threat Groups (STGs), have equal and |
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unobstructed access to rehabilitative programs directly related to |
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their crime of conviction, provided they meet all program |
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requirements. |
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(b) Program Relevance to Crime of Conviction. Inmates |
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convicted of drug or substance-related offenses shall have equal |
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access to the following types of rehabilitative programs: |
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(1) Drug and substance use prevention programs; |
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(2) Drug and substance use rehabilitation programs; |
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(3) Substance use education programs; |
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(4) Any other programs designed to address or reduce |
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the likelihood of future offenses related to drug and substance |
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abuse. |
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(c) Non-Discriminatory Access. No individual shall be |
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denied access to these programs solely on the basis of their STG |
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status, and all eligible inmates shall have the opportunity to |
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participate in relevant programs without restriction due to |
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classification. |
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SECTION 4. PROGRAM EVALUATION AND REPORTING. (a) The TDCJ |
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shall, within one year of the passage of this Act, establish an |
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evaluation and reporting process to monitor the effectiveness of |
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this policy. The evaluation shall include: |
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(1) Data on the participation rates of STG members in |
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rehabilitative programs related to their crime of conviction; |
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(2) The outcomes of these programs in terms of |
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substance abuse reduction while in custody; |
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(3) Any barriers to access that exist for STG members. |
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(b) The TDCJ shall submit a report to the legislature every |
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two years detailing the success of the program and any necessary |
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adjustments or recommendations for improvements. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025 and |
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applies to all persons incarcerated during and after the passage of |
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this act. |