| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the provision of services to a wrongfully imprisoned |
|
|
person who is discharged from a correctional facility. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 501.091 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 501.091. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR WRONGFULLY |
|
|
IMPRISONED PERSONS WHO ARE DISCHARGED. (a) In this section, |
|
|
"wrongfully imprisoned person" means a person who: |
|
|
(1) has served in whole or in part a sentence in a |
|
|
facility operated by or under contract with the department; and |
|
|
(2) has: |
|
|
(A) received a pardon for innocence for the crime |
|
|
for which the person was sentenced; or |
|
|
(B) otherwise been granted relief on the basis of |
|
|
actual innocence of the crime for which the person was sentenced. |
|
|
(b) The department shall ensure that the same programs and |
|
|
services that are available to or in which participation is |
|
|
mandatory for an inmate released on parole or to mandatory |
|
|
supervision, including programs and services offered or required |
|
|
under Subchapter F or G of Chapter 508, are available to a |
|
|
wrongfully imprisoned person when the person is discharged from the |
|
|
department. |
|
|
(c) The executive director of the department may: |
|
|
(1) adopt rules as necessary to implement this |
|
|
section; and |
|
|
(2) direct the director of the Texas Correctional |
|
|
Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments to take any |
|
|
actions necessary to implement this section. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1847 passed the Senate on |
|
|
April 9, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|
|
|
| |
| |
______________________________ |
| |
Secretary of the Senate |
| |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1847 passed the House on |
|
|
May 20, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, two |
|
|
present not voting. |
|
|
|
| |
| |
______________________________ |
| |
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Approved: |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Governor |