83R9904 MAW-F
By: Rose H.B. No. 3531
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a peer education program for offenders 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 501.0052 to read as follows:
Sec. 501.0052. OFFENDER PEER EDUCATION. (a) The
department shall establish a program to authorize inmates who
possess specialized skills or education to provide instruction to
other inmates through voluntary workshops. The department shall
determine the types of workshops that may be offered and shall
emphasize workshops that encourage the general dissemination of
knowledge, enhance critical thinking skills, and increase the
literacy of participating inmates.
(b) The department shall establish minimum requirements for
participation in the program, including the requirements of inmates
who will provide instruction to other inmates. The department
shall establish a training course in workshop facilitation and
shall require an inmate to complete the course before the inmate may
provide instruction to other inmates.
(c) Each inmate who is providing instruction through a
workshop must determine the curriculum for the workshop. A
workshop curriculum must be at least six weeks and not more than 12
weeks in length and must include at least two meetings per week.
The department shall allow an inmate providing instruction through
the program to use the resources of the Windham School District
libraries in preparing a curriculum or course materials for a
workshop.
(d) An inmate providing instruction to another inmate may
only function as a teacher and advisor to the inmate and may not
exercise supervisory authority or control over the inmate.
(e) The department may consider the results of any
examination conducted in a workshop and the level of participation
in a workshop in determining the effectiveness of the workshop.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2013, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall adopt rules necessary to
implement Section 501.0052, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.