HBA-NMO C.S.H.B. 275 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 275
By: West, George
Corrections
3/21/99
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, certain inmates of the institutional division of the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) have access to weight-lifting
equipment, television, and radio.  H.B. 275 prohibits the institutional
division from providing certain inmates access to the recreational use of
weight-lifting equipment and television.  This bill also places
stipulations on the use of general revenue appropriations by TDCJ regarding
recreational equipment.        

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 Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, by adding
Section 501.018, as follows: 

Sec.  501.018.  RECREATIONAL AMENITIES.  (a) Prohibits the institutional
division from allowing an inmate classified as subject to close custody or
administrative segregation, other than administrative segregation level I
protective custody, access to weight-lifting equipment or accessories other
than in connection with physician-recommended physical therapy, or use of a
television other than in connection with a work, educational, or vocational
activity. 

(b) Authorizes the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to use money
appropriated from the general revenue fund to pay the cost of purchasing or
maintaining recreational equipment to be used by an inmate confined in the
institutional division only if the money is appropriated out of the
receipts deposited from the education and recreation fund or if the
equipment is used exclusively in connection with physician-recommended
physical therapy or a work, educational, or vocational activity. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.

 
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute differs from the original, as follows:

SECTION 1.  Prohibits certain inmates from the recreational use of a
television, rather than a television or radio, as proposed.