88R10340 MCF-D
By: Romero, Jr. H.B. No. 2748
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain procedures concerning the welfare of prisoners
confined in county jails.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by
adding Sections 511.024, 511.025, and 511.026 to read as follows:
Sec. 511.024. FAMILY LIAISON OFFICER. (a) The commission
shall require the sheriff of a county to designate one employee at
the county jail to serve as the family liaison officer for the jail
to facilitate the maintenance of ties between prisoners and their
families for the purpose of reducing recidivism.
(b) The family liaison officer shall:
(1) provide prisoners' families with information about
the classification status, location, and health of prisoners at the
county jail;
(2) notify prisoners about emergencies involving
their families and provide prisoners with other necessary
information relating to their families;
(3) assist prisoners' families and other persons
during visits with prisoners and aid those persons in resolving
problems that may affect permitted contact with prisoners; and
(4) inform individuals who possess a reference number
described by Section 511.025 when the applicable prisoner requires
any medical attention outside of routine medical checks.
Sec. 511.025. MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION FORM. (a) The
commission shall adopt a medical authorization form for a prisoner
to authorize the release of the prisoner's medical information by
the county jail to an individual named in the form.
(b) On request of a prisoner, a county jail shall submit to
the commission a medical authorization form signed by the prisoner.
As soon as practicable after receiving the form, the commission
shall provide a reference number by mail or facsimile to:
(1) the individual named by the prisoner in the form;
and
(2) the county jail that submitted the form.
(c) An individual named in a medical authorization form may
obtain medical information concerning the prisoner from the
applicable county jail, including the family liaison officer for
the county jail, by providing the reference number described by
Subsection (b) to the county jail.
Sec. 511.026. COMPLAINT INSPECTIONS AND REPORT. (a) On
receipt by the commission of a complaint alleging abuse or neglect
of a prisoner, including medical neglect, or unsafe conditions at a
county jail, the commission shall check on the health and
well-being of prisoners at the jail.
(b) Not later than February 1 of each year, the commission
shall submit to the governor and the presiding officer of each house
of the legislature a report on the complaints described by
Subsection (a) that the commission received during the preceding
year. The report must include, for each county jail, the total
number of:
(1) complaints submitted;
(2) complaints submitted for each category of
allegation, including complaints alleging medical neglect and
complaints alleging that the family liaison officer for the jail
failed to disclose medical information to an individual who
possesses a reference number described by Section 511.025; and
(3) complaints that were resolved by the commission.
(c) The commission may submit the report required under
Subsection (b) with the report required under Section 511.015.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Commission on Jail Standards shall adopt the form
required by Section 511.025, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.