H.B. No. 3649
AN ACT
relating to a policy regarding the receipt of books by mail by an
inmate in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 501.0051 to read as follows:
Sec. 501.0051. RECEIPT OF BOOKS BY MAIL. (a) The
department shall establish a policy that permits an inmate to
receive by mail reference books and other educational materials
from a volunteer organization that operates programs described by
Section 501.009, regardless of whether the organization provides
those programs to inmates housed in facilities operated by the
department.
(b) The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement
this section, including rules to:
(1) provide for screening of packages sent to inmates;
(2) prohibit inmates from receiving books that might
assist them in committing crimes, such as books on escaping prison;
and
(3) define the terms "reference books" and
"educational materials."
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall
establish the policy required by Section 501.0051, Government Code,
as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3649 was passed by the House on May 6,
2009, by the following vote: Yeas 125, Nays 19, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3649 was passed by the Senate on May
26, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor