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AN ACT
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relating to the verification of the veteran status of inmates and |
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prisoners. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 501.023, Government Code, as added by |
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Chapter 261 (H.B. 634), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2013, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.023. VERIFICATION OF INMATE VETERAN STATUS. (a) |
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The department, during the diagnostic process, shall record |
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information relating to an inmate's military history in the |
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inmate's admission sheet and intake screening form, or any other |
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similar document [In this section, "system" means the Public
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Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) operated by the
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Administration for Children and Families of the United States
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Department of Health and Human Services]. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) in consultation with the Texas Veterans |
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Commission, investigate and verify the veteran status of each |
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inmate by using the best available federal data [made available
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from the system through the Health and Human Services Commission]; |
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and |
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(2) use the [system] data described by Subdivision (1) |
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to assist inmates who are veterans in applying for federal benefits |
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or compensation for which the inmates may be eligible under a |
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program administered by the United States Department of Veterans |
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Affairs. |
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SECTION 2. Section 511.009(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The commission shall: |
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(1) adopt reasonable rules and procedures |
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establishing minimum standards for the construction, equipment, |
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maintenance, and operation of county jails; |
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(2) adopt reasonable rules and procedures |
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establishing minimum standards for the custody, care, and treatment |
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of prisoners; |
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(3) adopt reasonable rules establishing minimum |
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standards for the number of jail supervisory personnel and for |
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programs and services to meet the needs of prisoners; |
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(4) adopt reasonable rules and procedures |
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establishing minimum requirements for programs of rehabilitation, |
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education, and recreation in county jails; |
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(5) revise, amend, or change rules and procedures if |
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necessary; |
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(6) provide to local government officials |
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consultation on and technical assistance for county jails; |
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(7) review and comment on plans for the construction |
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and major modification or renovation of county jails; |
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(8) require that the sheriff and commissioners of each |
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county submit to the commission, on a form prescribed by the |
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commission, an annual report on the conditions in each county jail |
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within their jurisdiction, including all information necessary to |
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determine compliance with state law, commission orders, and the |
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rules adopted under this chapter; |
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(9) review the reports submitted under Subdivision (8) |
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and require commission employees to inspect county jails regularly |
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to ensure compliance with state law, commission orders, and rules |
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and procedures adopted under this chapter; |
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(10) adopt a classification system to assist sheriffs |
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and judges in determining which defendants are low-risk and |
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consequently suitable participants in a county jail work release |
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program under Article 42.034, Code of Criminal Procedure; |
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(11) adopt rules relating to requirements for |
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segregation of classes of inmates and to capacities for county |
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jails; |
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(12) require that the chief jailer of each municipal |
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lockup submit to the commission, on a form prescribed by the |
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commission, an annual report of persons under 17 years of age |
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securely detained in the lockup, including all information |
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necessary to determine compliance with state law concerning secure |
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confinement of children in municipal lockups; |
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(13) at least annually determine whether each county |
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jail is in compliance with the rules and procedures adopted under |
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this chapter; |
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(14) require that the sheriff and commissioners court |
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of each county submit to the commission, on a form prescribed by the |
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commission, an annual report of persons under 17 years of age |
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securely detained in the county jail, including all information |
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necessary to determine compliance with state law concerning secure |
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confinement of children in county jails; |
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(15) schedule announced and unannounced inspections |
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of jails under the commission's jurisdiction using the risk |
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assessment plan established under Section 511.0085 to guide the |
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inspections process; |
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(16) adopt a policy for gathering and distributing to |
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jails under the commission's jurisdiction information regarding: |
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(A) common issues concerning jail |
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administration; |
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(B) examples of successful strategies for |
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maintaining compliance with state law and the rules, standards, and |
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procedures of the commission; and |
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(C) solutions to operational challenges for |
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jails; |
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(17) report to the Texas Correctional Office on |
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Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments on a jail's compliance |
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with Article 16.22, Code of Criminal Procedure; |
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(18) adopt reasonable rules and procedures |
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establishing minimum requirements for jails to: |
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(A) determine if a prisoner is pregnant; and |
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(B) ensure that the jail's health services plan |
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addresses medical and mental health care, including nutritional |
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requirements, and any special housing or work assignment needs for |
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persons who are confined in the jail and are known or determined to |
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be pregnant; [and] |
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(19) provide guidelines to sheriffs regarding |
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contracts between a sheriff and another entity for the provision of |
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food services to or the operation of a commissary in a jail under |
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the commission's jurisdiction, including specific provisions |
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regarding conflicts of interest and avoiding the appearance of |
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impropriety; and |
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(20) require the sheriff of each county to: |
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(A) investigate and verify the veteran status of |
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each prisoner by using data made available from the Veterans |
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Reentry Search Service (VRSS) operated by the United States |
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Department of Veterans Affairs or a similar service; and |
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(B) use the data described by Paragraph (A) to |
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assist prisoners who are veterans in applying for federal benefits |
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or compensation for which the prisoners may be eligible under a |
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program administered by the United States Department of Veterans |
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Affairs. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 875 was passed by the House on April |
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30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 3, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 875 was passed by the Senate on May |
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20, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |