BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2169

By: Allen

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised that women confined in county jails often do not have access to an adequate supply of feminine hygiene products resulting in unnecessary health care risks and humiliation and that better information is needed regarding the number of female prisoners confined in county jails to assist in determining necessary supplies. H.B. 2169 seeks to address these concerns by setting out provisions relating to the provision of feminine hygiene products to female prisoners and to reporting requirements concerning female prisoners who are confined in county jails. 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Commission on Jail Standards in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2169 amends the Government Code to require the Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS), not later than December 1, 2019, to adopt reasonable rules and procedures establishing minimum standards for the quantity and quality of feminine hygiene products provided to a female prisoner. The bill adds a category for female prisoners to a county's monthly jail population report that is submitted to TCJS and requires a county to submit the first report with such category not later than October 5, 2019.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.