By: Hernandez, White (Senate Sponsor - Whitmire) H.B. No. 239
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 1, 2017;
May 9, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal
Justice; May 17, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 17, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a report regarding the confinement of pregnant inmates
by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "department" means the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
(b) The department shall prepare a report on the confinement
of pregnant inmates in facilities operated by or under contract
with the department. The report must include:
(1) a description of the department's implementation
of policies and procedures to provide adequate care to pregnant
inmates while confined in a facility operated by or under contract
with the department, and any policies adopted by the department
regarding the placement of a pregnant inmate in administrative
segregation;
(2) information regarding the health care provided to
a pregnant inmate, including the availability of:
(A) obstetrical or gynecological care;
(B) prenatal health care visits;
(C) mental health care; and
(D) drug abuse or chemical dependency treatment;
(3) a detailed summary of the following as applicable
to pregnant inmates:
(A) nutritional standards, including the average
caloric intake of a pregnant inmate and other dietary information;
(B) work assignments;
(C) housing conditions; and
(D) situations in which a pregnant inmate has
been restrained, including the reason a determination to use
restraints was made under Section 501.066, Government Code; and
(4) the number of miscarriages experienced by pregnant
inmates while confined in a facility operated by or under contract
with the department between September 1, 2017, and September 1,
2018.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2018, the department shall
provide a copy of the report to:
(1) the governor;
(2) the lieutenant governor;
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives; and
(4) each standing committee of the senate and house of
representatives having primary jurisdiction over matters relating
to corrections.
SECTION 2. This Act expires February 1, 2019.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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