81R10492 KCR-D
By: Turner of Harris H.B. No. 3055
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the racial and ethnic classification of individuals
confined in the criminal and juvenile justice systems.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 501.001, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 501.001. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INMATES PROHIBITED;
DOCUMENTATION OF RACE OR ETHNICITY. (a) The department
[institutional division and the director of the institutional
division] may not discriminate against an inmate on the basis of the
inmate's sex, race, color, creed, or national origin.
(b) When it is necessary for the department to document the
race or ethnicity of an inmate or state jail defendant, the
department shall ensure that:
(1) on any preprinted or computerized form, a
sufficient number of categories of race and ethnicity exist to
adequately reflect the race or ethnicity of the inmate or state jail
defendant; and
(2) the race or ethnicity of the inmate or state jail
defendant is documented as stated by the inmate or state jail
defendant.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 61, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 61.025 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.025. DOCUMENTATION OF RACE OR ETHNICITY. When it is
necessary for the commission to document the race or ethnicity of a
child, the department shall ensure that:
(1) on any preprinted or computerized form, a
sufficient number of categories of race and ethnicity exist to
adequately reflect the race or ethnicity of the child; and
(2) the child's race or ethnicity is documented as
stated by the child or the child's parent or legal guardian.
SECTION 3. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the
Texas Youth Commission shall make any modifications to preprinted
or computerized forms necessary to comply with Section
501.001(b)(1), Government Code, as added by this Act, or Section
61.025(1), Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, as
applicable, not later than January 1, 2010.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.