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| 3 | 5 | | |
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| 4 | 6 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 7 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 8 | | relating to a study by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice |
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| 7 | 9 | | concerning the transparency, oversight, and accountability of the |
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| 8 | 10 | | use of the restrictive housing, security threat groups, and certain |
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| 9 | 11 | | disciplinary measures |
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| 10 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 13 | | SECTION 1. TITLE. This bill shall be known as the |
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| 12 | 14 | | Restrictive Housing / Solitary Confinement Standards and Reporting |
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| 13 | 15 | | Act. |
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| 14 | 16 | | SECTION 2. PURPOSE. The purpose of this bill is to enhance |
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| 15 | 17 | | transparency, oversight, and accountability regarding the use of |
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| 16 | 18 | | solitary confinement, also known as restrictive housing, STG, G4, |
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| 17 | 19 | | G5, ALU, and Death Row in TDCJ correctional facilities. The goal is |
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| 18 | 20 | | to track progress in improving standards for the treatment of |
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| 19 | 21 | | individuals in all forms of restrictive housing/solitary |
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| 20 | 22 | | confinement to ensure that correctional institutions uphold the |
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| 21 | 23 | | mental, physical, and rehabilitative well-being of those |
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| 22 | 24 | | incarcerated. |
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| 23 | 25 | | SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Act: |
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| 24 | 26 | | (a) Restrictive Housing includes all forms of solitary |
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| 25 | 27 | | confinement in TDCJ (G4, G5, STG, ALU, and Death Row). It refers to |
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| 26 | 28 | | the practice of placing an inmate in a physically isolated cell or |
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| 27 | 29 | | unit, with limited or no social interaction, with restrictions on |
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| 28 | 30 | | the amount of time outside the cell, and access to rehabilitative |
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| 29 | 31 | | programs or services. |
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| 30 | 32 | | (b) Restricted Housing refers to a similar form of |
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| 31 | 33 | | confinement as above, involving isolation with limited privileges, |
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| 32 | 34 | | often used for inmates who pose a risk to safety or security. |
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| 33 | 35 | | (c) Rehabilitative Programs refer to activities or services |
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| 34 | 36 | | aimed at improving the behavioral, psychological, educational, and |
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| 35 | 37 | | vocational outcomes for individuals incarcerated in solitary |
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| 36 | 38 | | confinement. |
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| 37 | 39 | | (d) Mental Health Diagnoses include any recognized |
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| 38 | 40 | | condition affecting the mental or emotional health of an |
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| 39 | 41 | | individual, such as anxiety disorders, depression, and |
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| 40 | 42 | | schizophrenia, among others. |
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| 41 | 43 | | (e) Medical or Psychiatric Emergencies refers to situations |
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| 42 | 44 | | where an individual in solitary confinement experiences severe |
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| 43 | 45 | | mental or physical distress that requires immediate medical or |
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| 44 | 46 | | psychiatric attention. |
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| 45 | 47 | | SECTION 4. DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The |
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| 46 | 48 | | Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall collect |
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| 47 | 49 | | comprehensive data to monitor and evaluate the use of solitary |
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| 48 | 50 | | confinement, also known as restricted housing. This data will be |
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| 49 | 51 | | used to track progress toward improving the conditions, standards, |
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| 50 | 52 | | and overall impact of solitary confinement placements. An annual |
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| 51 | 53 | | report shall be submitted to the Legislature containing data |
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| 52 | 54 | | including personal information, reasons for placement, program |
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| 53 | 55 | | access, staffing ratios, duration, facility utilization, mental |
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| 54 | 56 | | health impacts, and appeal outcomes. |
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| 55 | 57 | | SECTION 5. COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT. The Department |
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| 56 | 58 | | shall ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the data collected |
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| 57 | 59 | | under this Act. Non-compliance will result in corrective actions |
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| 58 | 60 | | and potential independent audits. Any individual found to have |
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| 59 | 61 | | been wrongfully placed in solitary confinement or subjected to |
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| 60 | 62 | | prolonged confinement without just cause shall have legal recourse. |
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| 61 | 63 | | SECTION 6. IMPLEMENTATION. The Department of Corrections |
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| 62 | 64 | | and Rehabilitation shall begin implementing the provisions of this |
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| 63 | 65 | | Act within six months of the date of its enactment. Necessary |
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| 64 | 66 | | adjustments to data collection systems, staff training, and |
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| 65 | 67 | | reporting protocols shall be completed in a timely manner. |
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| 66 | 68 | | SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on September 5, 2025, |
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| 67 | 69 | | or as soon as possible thereafter. |
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