Bill Text: TX HB2950 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the temperature at which certain facilities operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are maintained.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-28 - Left pending in committee [HB2950 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB2950-Introduced.html
| 88R12127 BDP-D | ||
| By: Bryant | H.B. No. 2950 | |
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| relating to the temperature at which certain facilities operated by | ||
| the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are maintained. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Sections 501.028 and 501.029 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 501.028. TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS AT DEPARTMENT | ||
| FACILITIES. The department shall ensure that the temperature in | ||
| each facility operated by the department and used to house inmates | ||
| or in which department staff regularly work is maintained at not | ||
| less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit or more than 85 degrees Fahrenheit. | ||
| Sec. 501.029. REPORT REGARDING AIR CONDITIONING. Not later | ||
| than December 1 of each year, the department shall submit to the | ||
| governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of | ||
| representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature | ||
| with primary jurisdiction over the department a report regarding | ||
| air conditioning in facilities operated by the department and used | ||
| to house inmates or in which department staff regularly work. The | ||
| report must include the following information for the preceding | ||
| 12-month period: | ||
| (1) the number of facilities in which the air | ||
| conditioning system has failed; | ||
| (2) the number of incidents in which the air | ||
| conditioning in a facility was not operational and the reason for | ||
| each incident; and | ||
| (3) for each incident described by Subdivision (2) | ||
| that was due to an equipment malfunction, a summary of the steps | ||
| taken by the department to address the malfunction and ensure the | ||
| well-being of inmates and staff at the facility. | ||
| SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is | ||
| not required to fully comply with the requirements of Section | ||
| 501.028, Government Code, as added by this Act, until September 1, | ||
| 2026. | ||
| (b) Not later than December 1, 2024, the Texas Department of | ||
| Criminal Justice shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant | ||
| governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each | ||
| standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction | ||
| over the department a report regarding the department's progress | ||
| toward complying with Section 501.028, Government Code, as added by | ||
| this Act, in all facilities to which that section applies. | ||
| (c) The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall submit | ||
| the first report required by Section 501.029, Government Code, as | ||
| added by this Act, not later than December 1, 2027. | ||
| SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of | ||
| this section, this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a | ||
| vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
| (b) Section 501.029, Government Code, as added by this Act, | ||
| takes effect September 1, 2026. | ||
