| 1 | 1 | | 89R15971 MCF-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Garcia of Bexar H.B. No. 5639 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to a veteran housing program established by the Texas |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | Department of Criminal Justice. |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Section 501.115 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 501.115. VETERAN HOUSING PROGRAM. (a) The department |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | shall establish a housing program for inmates who are veterans who |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | served not less than 180 days on active duty in the United States |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | armed forces and were honorably discharged. |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | (b) The program established under Subsection (a) must: |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (1) dedicate certain cellblocks or dormitories for use |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | in the program; and |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (2) include procedures to: |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (A) verify the eligibility of each inmate during |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | the diagnostic process; and |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | (B) allow an inmate who is a veteran described by |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | Subsection (a) to opt in to the housing dedicated for use in the |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | program under Subdivision (1). |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | (c) In housing inmates under the program established under |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | Subsection (a), the department: |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | (1) shall comply with the requirements of Section |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | 501.112; and |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | (2) may not house an inmate in a cellblock or dormitory |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | dedicated for use in the program if the department determines that |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | housing the inmate in the cellblock or dormitory would jeopardize |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | the safety or security of other inmates or staff. |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | (d) A cellblock or dormitory dedicated for use in the |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | program under Subsection (b)(1) may, if necessary, be used to house |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | inmates who are not veterans described by Subsection (a). |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | establish the program required by Section 501.115, Government Code, |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | as added by this Act. |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|