BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3649 By: Marquez Corrections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has established a policy limiting the direct mailing of books to inmates primarily to publishers, publication suppliers, or bookstores. H.B. 3649 requires the department to establish a policy permitting certain volunteer organizations to mail reference books and other education materials directly to inmates. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in SECTION 1 of this bill. ANALYSIS H.B. 3649 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to establish a policy that permits an inmate to receive, by mail, reference books and other educational materials from a volunteer organization operating a certain program to promote the general welfare of a TDCJ inmate described by state law, regardless of whether the organization provides those programs to inmates housed in TDCJ facilities. The bill requires TDCJ to adopt rules as necessary to implement the policy for the receipt of books by mail, including rules that define "reference books" and "educational materials." The bill requires TDCJ to establish the policy as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 3649
By: Marquez
Corrections
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 3649
By: Marquez
Corrections
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has established a policy limiting the direct mailing of books to inmates primarily to publishers, publication suppliers, or bookstores. H.B. 3649 requires the department to establish a policy permitting certain volunteer organizations to mail reference books and other education materials directly to inmates.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in SECTION 1 of this bill.
ANALYSIS H.B. 3649 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to establish a policy that permits an inmate to receive, by mail, reference books and other educational materials from a volunteer organization operating a certain program to promote the general welfare of a TDCJ inmate described by state law, regardless of whether the organization provides those programs to inmates housed in TDCJ facilities. The bill requires TDCJ to adopt rules as necessary to implement the policy for the receipt of books by mail, including rules that define "reference books" and "educational materials." The bill requires TDCJ to establish the policy as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has established a policy limiting the direct mailing of books to inmates primarily to publishers, publication suppliers, or bookstores.
H.B. 3649 requires the department to establish a policy permitting certain volunteer organizations to mail reference books and other education materials directly to inmates.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in SECTION 1 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 3649 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to establish a policy that permits an inmate to receive, by mail, reference books and other educational materials from a volunteer organization operating a certain program to promote the general welfare of a TDCJ inmate described by state law, regardless of whether the organization provides those programs to inmates housed in TDCJ facilities. The bill requires TDCJ to adopt rules as necessary to implement the policy for the receipt of books by mail, including rules that define "reference books" and "educational materials." The bill requires TDCJ to establish the policy as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.