Bill Text: TX HB2748 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to certain procedures concerning the welfare of prisoners confined in county jails.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-13 - Referred to County Affairs [HB2748 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB2748-Introduced.html
  88R10340 MCF-D
 
  By: Romero, Jr. H.B. No. 2748
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain procedures concerning the welfare of prisoners
  confined in county jails.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Sections 511.024, 511.025, and 511.026 to read as follows:
         Sec. 511.024.  FAMILY LIAISON OFFICER. (a)  The commission
  shall require the sheriff of a county to designate one employee at
  the county jail to serve as the family liaison officer for the jail
  to facilitate the maintenance of ties between prisoners and their
  families for the purpose of reducing recidivism.
         (b)  The family liaison officer shall:
               (1)  provide prisoners' families with information about
  the classification status, location, and health of prisoners at the
  county jail;
               (2)  notify prisoners about emergencies involving
  their families and provide prisoners with other necessary
  information relating to their families;
               (3)  assist prisoners' families and other persons
  during visits with prisoners and aid those persons in resolving
  problems that may affect permitted contact with prisoners; and
               (4)  inform individuals who possess a reference number
  described by Section 511.025 when the applicable prisoner requires
  any medical attention outside of routine medical checks.
         Sec. 511.025.  MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION FORM. (a)  The
  commission shall adopt a medical authorization form for a prisoner
  to authorize the release of the prisoner's medical information by
  the county jail to an individual named in the form.
         (b)  On request of a prisoner, a county jail shall submit to
  the commission a medical authorization form signed by the prisoner.  
  As soon as practicable after receiving the form, the commission
  shall provide a reference number by mail or facsimile to:
               (1)  the individual named by the prisoner in the form;
  and
               (2)  the county jail that submitted the form.
         (c)  An individual named in a medical authorization form may
  obtain medical information concerning the prisoner from the
  applicable county jail, including the family liaison officer for
  the county jail, by providing the reference number described by
  Subsection (b) to the county jail.
         Sec. 511.026.  COMPLAINT INSPECTIONS AND REPORT. (a)  On
  receipt by the commission of a complaint alleging abuse or neglect
  of a prisoner, including medical neglect, or unsafe conditions at a
  county jail, the commission shall check on the health and
  well-being of prisoners at the jail.
         (b)  Not later than February 1 of each year, the commission
  shall submit to the governor and the presiding officer of each house
  of the legislature a report on the complaints described by
  Subsection (a) that the commission received during the preceding
  year. The report must include, for each county jail, the total
  number of:
               (1)  complaints submitted;
               (2)  complaints submitted for each category of
  allegation, including complaints alleging medical neglect and
  complaints alleging that the family liaison officer for the jail
  failed to disclose medical information to an individual who
  possesses a reference number described by Section 511.025; and
               (3)  complaints that were resolved by the commission.
         (c)  The commission may submit the report required under
  Subsection (b) with the report required under Section 511.015.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Commission on Jail Standards shall adopt the form
  required by Section 511.025, Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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