86R29257 JRR-F
By: White H.B. No. 2158
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2158:
By: Bowers C.S.H.B. No. 2158
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the availability of peer support services in facilities
operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 493.032 to read as follows:
Sec. 493.032. AVAILABILITY OF PEER SUPPORT SERVICES. (a)
The department shall adopt a policy to increase the availability of
formal and informal peer support services, including certified peer
specialist services, to a person confined in a facility operated by
or under contract with the department, including a state jail
felony facility, substance abuse felony punishment facility, or
intermediate sanction facility.
(b) The policy adopted under Subsection (a) must:
(1) allow for persons who have previously been
convicted of an offense, including releasees on parole or mandatory
supervision and defendants on community supervision, to serve as
certified peer specialists in a facility described by Subsection
(a);
(2) specify the conditions under which a person
described by Subdivision (1) may serve as a certified peer
specialist; and
(3) allow for persons confined in a facility described
by Subsection (a) to serve in a peer support role, provided that the
persons are trained and supervised by a community-based
organization described by Subsection (c).
(c) In implementing the policy adopted under Subsection
(a), the department shall:
(1) collaborate with community-based organizations
that provide peer specialist training, including training in any of
the following peer support specialties:
(A) certified peer specialist;
(B) certified peer reentry specialist;
(C) certified peer recovery specialist; or
(D) any other peer support specialty recognized
by the Health and Human Services Commission; and
(2) encourage and assist persons described by
Subsection (b)(3), with particular emphasis on persons who have
been involved with programs or services relating to substance abuse
or behavioral health, to participate in training described by
Subdivision (1).
SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2020, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall adopt and implement the policy
required by Section 493.032, 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, 2019.