By: Toth, et al. H.B. No. 2811
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to programs provided by volunteer and faith-based
organizations to inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 501.009, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 501.009. VOLUNTEER AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS;
REPORT. (a) The department shall adopt a policy that requires each
warden to identify [actively encourage] volunteer and faith-based
organizations that [to] provide [the following] programs for
inmates housed in facilities operated by the department. The
policy must require each warden to actively encourage volunteer and
faith-based organizations to provide the following programs for
inmates in the warden's facility:
(1) literacy and education programs;
(2) life skills programs;
(3) job skills programs;
(4) parent-training programs;
(5) drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs;
(6) support group programs;
(7) arts and crafts programs; and
(8) other programs determined by the department to aid
inmates in the transition between confinement and society and to
reduce incidence of recidivism among inmates.
(b) The policy must require that each warden submit a report
to the board not later than December 31 of each year that includes,
for the preceding fiscal year, a summary of:
(1) the programs provided to inmates under this
section; and
(2) the actions taken by the warden to identify
volunteer and faith-based organizations willing to provide
programs to inmates and to encourage those organizations to provide
programs in the warden's facility.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2013, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall adopt the policy, including a
schedule for implementing the policy, required by Section 501.009,
Government Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.