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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a task force to study the impact of |
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the use of administrative segregation and disciplinary seclusion. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Disciplinary seclusion" means the separation of a |
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child from other children for disciplinary reasons and the |
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placement of the child alone in an area from which egress is |
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prevented for more than 90 minutes. |
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(2) "Juvenile facility" means a facility that serves |
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children under juvenile court jurisdiction and that is operated as |
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a pre-adjudication secure detention facility, a short-term |
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detention facility, or a post-adjudication secure correctional |
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facility. |
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SECTION 2. TASK FORCE TO STUDY ADMINISTRATIVE SEGREGATION |
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AND DISCIPLINARY SECLUSION. (a) A task force is established under |
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this section to study the short-term and long-term impacts of the |
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use of: |
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(1) administrative segregation on inmates confined in |
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facilities operated by or under contract with the Texas Department |
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of Criminal Justice; and |
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(2) disciplinary seclusion for children detained in or |
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committed to a juvenile facility. |
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(b) The task force is composed of 12 members appointed by |
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the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of |
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representatives, each of whom shall appoint: |
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(1) one representative of the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice; |
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(2) one representative of the Texas Juvenile Justice |
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Department; |
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(3) one representative of a statewide organization |
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that advocates for the improvement of conditions in correctional |
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facilities or juvenile facilities; and |
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(4) one member who is a mental health professional. |
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(c) The Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Texas |
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Juvenile Justice Department shall provide access to facilities and |
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records and otherwise assist the task force in conducting the |
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study. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2024, the task force shall |
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prepare and submit a written report containing the results of the |
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study and any legislative recommendations to: |
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(1) the governor; |
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(2) the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) the speaker of the house of representatives; |
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(4) each standing committee of the legislature having |
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primary jurisdiction over the Texas Department of Criminal Justice |
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or Texas Juvenile Justice Department; |
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(5) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and |
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(6) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. |
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(e) The task force is abolished and this Act expires |
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September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2023. |