H.B. No. 374
AN ACT
relating to meetings or visits between a defendant on community
supervision and a supervision officer.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 76, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 76.019 to read as follows:
Sec. 76.019. SUPERVISION OFFICER MEETINGS AND VISITS. (a)
A department shall adopt a policy regarding the scheduling of
meetings or visits with a defendant placed on community supervision
and supervised by the department. The policy must require the
officer supervising the defendant to take into consideration the
defendant's work, treatment, or community service schedule, as
applicable, when scheduling any required meetings or visits.
(b) A department may permit a defendant to report to the
officer supervising the defendant by use of videoconference
technology if the department determines that an in-person meeting
or visit is unnecessary.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2020, each community
supervision and corrections department shall adopt the policy
required by Section 76.019, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 374 was passed by the House on April
2, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 5, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 374 on May 10, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 106, Nays 0, 1
present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 374 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 1, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor