Texas House Bill HB1870

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to the manner in which inmates may receive certain cash payments on discharge or release from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Impact

The implementation of HB 1870 would primarily affect procedures related to the financial transactions of discharged inmates. By allowing the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to contract with financial institutions to issue prepaid debit cards, the bill aims to streamline the process and provide inmates with immediate access to funds upon release. The addition of a prepaid debit card system is intended to simplify the auditing process and ensure greater transparency in financial dealings involving inmate funds. It aligns with modern banking practices, potentially improving the overall experience for recent parolees or discharged individuals.

Summary

House Bill 1870 addresses the procedures regarding how inmates receive cash payments upon their discharge or release from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The bill amends Section 501.015 of the Government Code, updating the provisions for cash payments to inmates. One of the main changes introduced by this bill is the potential use of prepaid debit cards for inmates, which would allow them to access their discharge funds conveniently and without incurring transaction fees for initial withdrawals or point-of-sale purchases.

Contention

While the bill seems to offer benefits, such as convenience and efficiency, there may be concerns regarding the financial institutions chosen for these transactions. There are potential issues related to fees associated with these cards in the future, such as maintenance costs or other transactional charges that could detract from the amount of money available to the inmates. Additionally, oversight of these financial transactions will be critical to ensure that inmates are not subjected to further financial exploitation post-release, as they may not have the same access to financial literacy resources as typical consumers.