HBA-PDH H.B. 1198 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1198
By: Hardcastle
County Affairs
2/16/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Article 43.10, Code of Criminal Procedure, allows labor by
county inmates, but limits participation to public works and maintenance
projects for political subdivisions.  Section  351.201 (County Jail
Industries Program), Government Code, authorizes the involvement of county
inmates in certain work programs for the benefit of non-profit
organizations.  H.B. 1198 reconciles these provisions by allowing county
jail officials to use county inmates for general community improvement
efforts, including projects for nonprofit organizations. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article 43.10, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding
works and maintenance projects for nonprofit organizations that provide
services to the general public in the county and enhance the social welfare
and general well-being of the residents of the county among the labors that
a person required to work in a county jail industries program may perform.
Creates subsection from existing text.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.