Highlights of the 79th Texas Legislature - Senate

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/GENERAL
Requires the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), and TDCJ to establish a data
interface system to assist in the reintegration of offenders into the labor force.
Requires certain agencies to assist in the reintegration into the labor force of persons formerly sentenced to TDCJ or
committed to the TYC, to establish a data interface that, at a minimum, provides:
• detailed information about persons released from a correctional facility who might benefit from post-release
Project RIO services, including demographic and identifying information;
• the person’s address on release;
• a comprehensive state offense history, including the date of release from the correctional facility, sentence
discharge date, and conditions of parole;
• assessment information; educational and work history; and
• information related to participation in the work against recidivism program operated by the department’s
manufacturing and logistics division under the Texas Correctional Industries office, other services provided
under this title before release from the correctional facility, and referral information from TDCJ and TYC
necessary to implement the provision of post-release employment services.
Requires the data interface to be designed to provide to a person’s supervising officer on release information about
the person’s participation in employment services and entry into the workforce.
Provides that information received from TYC is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,
Government Code.
State Inmate Production of Goods and Services─H.B. 2839
By Representative Ray Allen—Senate Sponsor: Senator Harris
Current law does not allow the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to contract for the manufacturing or sale
of prison-made articles or products to a private or independent institution of higher education and prohibits
contracting for inmate labor for commercial services. This bill:
Authorizes TDCJ to contract with a private or independent institution of higher education to sell prison-made
products.
Requires contracts made between prisons and private industries to be certified by the Private Sector Prison
Industries Oversight Authority as complying with applicable rules, other than a requirement relating to the payment of
prevailing wages; that inmate jobs not affect existing jobs of a specific type provided by the contracting party; and be
approved by the board.
Limits to 500 the number of work program participants who may participate in programs under contracts.
HIGHLIGHTS - 79 TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE 29