89R3708 JDK-D
By: West S.B. No. 697
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an annual report by the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice on post-release or post-discharge employment and certain
other inmate data.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 493.036 to read as follows:
Sec. 493.036. ANNUAL REPORT ON POST-RELEASE OR
POST-DISCHARGE EMPLOYMENT AND CERTAIN OTHER INMATE DATA. (a) Not
later than January 30 of each year, the department shall:
(1) submit to the legislature a report that includes:
(A) the number of inmates confined in a facility
operated by or under contract with the department during the
previous state fiscal year, disaggregated by offense, parole
eligibility, race, ethnicity, and gender;
(B) the following employment information for
inmates released or discharged from the department during the
previous state fiscal year:
(i) the average amount of time for the
inmate to obtain employment following release or discharge,
disaggregated by whether the inmate received training through
career and technical education programs organized or sponsored by
the department or the Windham School District; and
(ii) the number of inmates who applied for
and the number who received an occupational license following
release or discharge; and
(C) the following information for inmates
released or discharged from the department during the previous
three state fiscal years, disaggregated by facility of release or
discharge:
(i) the number of inmates employed,
categorized by industry; and
(ii) the median wage of the inmates
employed, categorized by industry; and
(2) publish the report on the department's Internet
website.
(b) The department may enter into an agreement with the
Texas Workforce Commission or other third parties as necessary to
facilitate the department's duties under Subsection (a).
(c) The board may adopt rules necessary to administer this
section.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 30, 2026, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall submit the first report
required by Section 493.036(a), Government Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.