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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a proxy for a member of the legislature visiting a |
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facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 501.010, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a-1) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a-1) The institutional division shall allow the governor, |
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members of the legislature, persons designated under Subsection |
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(a-2), and members of the executive and judicial branches to enter |
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at proper hours any part of a facility operated by the division |
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where inmates are housed or worked[,] for the purpose of observing |
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the operations of the division. A visitor described by this |
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subsection may talk with inmates away from institutional division |
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employees. |
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(a-2) A member of the legislature may designate a person to |
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serve as the member's proxy for the purpose of observing the |
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operations of the institutional division as authorized by |
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Subsection (a-1). A designation made under this subsection is |
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valid until the earlier of: |
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(1) the second anniversary of the date that the person |
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is designated under this subsection; or |
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(2) the date the member ceases to be a member of the |
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legislature. |
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SECTION 2. Section 507.030, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a-1) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a-1) The state jail division shall allow the governor, |
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members of the legislature, persons designated under Subsection |
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(a-2), and officials of the executive and judicial branches to |
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enter during business hours any part of a facility operated by the |
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division[,] for the purpose of observing the operations of the |
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division. A visitor described by this subsection may talk with |
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defendants away from division employees. |
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(a-2) A member of the legislature may designate a person to |
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serve as the member's proxy for the purpose of observing the |
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operations of the state jail division as authorized by Subsection |
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(a-1). A designation made under this subsection is valid until the |
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earlier of: |
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(1) the second anniversary of the date that the person |
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is designated under this subsection; or |
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(2) the date the member ceases to be a member of the |
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legislature. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |