Texas House Bill HB4606

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to regulation contracts for operation of jails or correctional facilities.

Impact

The passage of HB4606 is expected to have significant implications on existing state laws concerning the operations of local jails and correctional facilities. By defining the status of facilities that house solely federal inmates, it differentiates oversight responsibilities and may lead to changes in operational procedures for these facilities. This could affect how counties and cities manage their agreements and the extent of regulation imposed by the state government on their operations.

Summary

House Bill 4606 focuses on the regulation of contracts related to the operation of jails or correctional facilities in Texas. The bill proposes amendments to Chapter 511.0094 of the Government Code, specifically addressing how facilities that house only federal prisoners are governed. The intention is to clarify the responsibilities of counties, municipalities, and private vendors when contracting with federal entities to house prisoners under specific conditions. Notably, this bill asserts that the provisions of the chapter do not apply when a facility exclusively housing federal prisoners is involved in such contracts.

Contention

While the initial text of the bill does not indicate any explicit points of contention, the subject matter has historically raised concerns among local government officials about the autonomy they have in regulating and managing correctional facilities. There may be apprehensions regarding whether such legislation could restrict local control, especially if local jails seek to contract with federal authorities or house state prisoners. Critics might argue that additional regulations or stipulations could impose burdens or limit flexibility in managing correctional operations.