Bill Text: TX HB239 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to a report regarding the confinement of pregnant inmates by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-29 - Effective on 9/1/17 [HB239 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB239-Enrolled.html
| H.B. No. 239 | ||
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| relating to a report regarding the confinement of pregnant inmates | ||
| by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "department" means the | ||
| Texas Department of Criminal Justice. | ||
| (b) The department shall prepare a report on the confinement | ||
| of pregnant inmates in facilities operated by or under contract | ||
| with the department. The report must include: | ||
| (1) a description of the department's implementation | ||
| of policies and procedures to provide adequate care to pregnant | ||
| inmates while confined in a facility operated by or under contract | ||
| with the department, and any policies adopted by the department | ||
| regarding the placement of a pregnant inmate in administrative | ||
| segregation; | ||
| (2) information regarding the health care provided to | ||
| a pregnant inmate, including the availability of: | ||
| (A) obstetrical or gynecological care; | ||
| (B) prenatal health care visits; | ||
| (C) mental health care; and | ||
| (D) drug abuse or chemical dependency treatment; | ||
| (3) a detailed summary of the following as applicable | ||
| to pregnant inmates: | ||
| (A) nutritional standards, including the average | ||
| caloric intake of a pregnant inmate and other dietary information; | ||
| (B) work assignments; | ||
| (C) housing conditions; and | ||
| (D) situations in which a pregnant inmate has | ||
| been restrained, including the reason a determination to use | ||
| restraints was made under Section 501.066, Government Code; and | ||
| (4) the number of miscarriages experienced by pregnant | ||
| inmates while confined in a facility operated by or under contract | ||
| with the department between September 1, 2017, and September 1, | ||
| 2018. | ||
| (c) Not later than December 1, 2018, the department shall | ||
| provide a copy of the report to: | ||
| (1) the governor; | ||
| (2) the lieutenant governor; | ||
| (3) the speaker of the house of representatives; and | ||
| (4) each standing committee of the senate and house of | ||
| representatives having primary jurisdiction over matters relating | ||
| to corrections. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act expires February 1, 2019. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.B. No. 239 was passed by the House on April | ||
| 28, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 117, Nays 17, 2 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.B. No. 239 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
| 19, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| _____________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
