88R2393 BDP-D
By: Shaheen H.B. No. 607
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the solicitation of pen pals by certain inmates of the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 500, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 500.009 to read as follows:
Sec. 500.009. PEN PAL SOLICITATION PROHIBITED. (a) This
section applies only to an inmate confined in a facility operated by
or under contract with the department who is serving a sentence for
an offense for which registration as a sex offender is required
under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b) The department shall adopt a policy that prohibits an
inmate described by Subsection (a) from placing an advertisement
soliciting a pen pal on an Internet website operated for that
purpose, regardless of whether another person submits or pays for
the advertisement for the inmate.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall adopt the policy required by
Section 500.009, Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.