| 1 | 1 | | 88R11723 MCF-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Garcia H.B. No. 4982 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to a veteran housing program established by the Texas |
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| 8 | 8 | | Department of Criminal Justice. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 501.115 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 501.115. VETERAN HOUSING PROGRAM. (a) The department |
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| 13 | 13 | | shall establish a housing program for inmates who are veterans of |
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| 14 | 14 | | the United States armed forces. The program must: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (1) dedicate certain cellblocks or dormitories for use |
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| 16 | 16 | | in the program; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | (2) include procedures to: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (A) verify the veteran status of each inmate |
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| 19 | 19 | | during the diagnostic process; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | (B) allow an inmate whose veteran status is |
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| 21 | 21 | | verified to opt in to the housing dedicated for use in the program |
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| 22 | 22 | | under Subdivision (1). |
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| 23 | 23 | | (b) A cellblock or dormitory dedicated for use in the |
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| 24 | 24 | | program under Subsection (a)(1) may, if necessary, be used to house |
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| 25 | 25 | | inmates who are not veterans. |
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| 26 | 26 | | SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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| 27 | 27 | | of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall |
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| 28 | 28 | | establish the program required by Section 501.115, Government Code, |
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| 29 | 29 | | as added by this Act. |
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| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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