88R9131 MAW-F
By: West S.B. No. 1147
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to vocational training for and the occupational licensing
of inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 501.027, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 501.027. ACCESS TO PROGRAMS BY FEMALE
INMATES. (a) The department shall develop and implement policies
that increase and promote a female inmate's access to programs
offered to inmates in the custody of the department, including
educational, [vocational,] substance use treatment,
rehabilitation, life skills training, and prerelease programs and
vocational programs providing education and training designed to
ensure successful employment following the inmate's release. The
department may not reduce or limit a male inmate's access to a
program to meet the requirements of this section.
(b) Not later than December 31 of each year, the department
shall:
(1) prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, each
standing committee of the legislature having primary jurisdiction
over the department, and the reentry task force described by
Section 501.098 a written report that includes:
(A) a description of any department policies that
were created, modified, or eliminated during the preceding year to
meet the requirements of this section; [and]
(B) a list of:
(i) all programs available to female
inmates in the custody of the department during the preceding year;
and
(ii) vocational programs made available to
female inmates in the custody of the department during the
preceding year; and
(C) a description of any issue identified by the
department that prevents the department from making more vocational
programs available to female inmates in the custody of the
department; and
(2) publish the report on the department's Internet
website.
SECTION 2. Section 53.021, Occupations Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) Subsection (b) does not prohibit a licensing
authority from accepting an application from an inmate imprisoned
in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall develop
and implement the policies necessary to implement Section 501.027,
Government Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.