H.B. No. 2289
AN ACT
relating to discharging or releasing inmates from the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice at or near certain department
facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 493.029 to read as follows:
Sec. 493.029. LOCAL AND REGIONAL RELEASE AND DISCHARGE
PROCEDURE. (a) The department shall establish a procedure through
which an inmate being discharged from the department or being
released on parole or to mandatory supervision is discharged or
released, as applicable, from:
(1) the facility in which the inmate is serving the
inmate's sentence; or
(2) the facility designated as a regional release
facility under Subsection (b) that is nearest to the facility in
which the inmate is serving the inmate's sentence.
(b) The department shall designate six or more facilities
operated by the department as regional release facilities from
which an inmate being discharged from the department or being
released on parole or to mandatory supervision may be discharged or
released, as applicable, rather than being released under
Subsection (a)(1). If the department determines that discharging
or releasing an inmate under Subsection (a) is not in the best
interest of the inmate or would threaten the safety of the public,
the department may release the inmate from a regional release
facility designated under this subsection other than the facility
described by Subsection (a)(2).
SECTION 2. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall
establish and implement the local and regional discharge and
release procedure required by Section 493.029, Government Code, as
added by this Act, as soon as possible after September 1, 2009, and
in no event later than September 1, 2010.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2289 was passed by the House on April
29, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2289 was passed by the Senate on May
21, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor