Canales Climate Control Bill Requires Nothing Until Lawmakers Fund It

The text as introduced · 627 words

89R8888 JDK-D

By: Canales
H.B. No. 3006

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the purchase and installation of climate control

systems at facilities operated by the Texas Department of Criminal

Justice.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. (a) In this section:

(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of

Criminal Justice.

(2) "Required temperature-controlled area" means the

following areas of a facility operated by the department:

(A) hospitals;

(B) visiting areas;

(C) housing or dormitory areas;

(D) trustee areas;

(E) areas used for medical treatment or care,

including areas used for dispensing medication to inmates;

(F) kitchens or dining areas;

(G) food preparation areas;

(H) community areas, including dayrooms;

(I) laundry areas;

(J) areas used for work stations;

(K) indoor recreational areas, including

gymnasiums;

(L) restroom and shower areas and other areas

related to inmate hygiene;

(M) administrative areas;

(N) correctional officer stations, including

guard post areas;

(O) commissary areas;

(P) areas used for programmatic, educational, or

vocational purposes;

(Q) chapels or churches;

(R) libraries; and

(S) maintenance areas.

(b) The department shall:

(1) contract with a private entity through a

competitive bidding process to purchase and install climate control

systems at each facility operated by the department that is not

currently equipped with a climate control system capable of

maintaining the temperature in the required temperature-controlled

areas of the facility at not less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit or more

than 85 degrees Fahrenheit; and

(2) install the climate control systems in the

following phases, with each phase consisting of the installation of

climate control systems at approximately one-third of the

department's facilities at a cost not to exceed $100 million per

phase:

(A) phase one to be completed not later than

December 31, 2028;

(B) phase two to be completed not later than

December 31, 2030; and

(C) phase three to be completed not later than

December 31, 2032.

(c) In conducting the competitive bidding process, the

department shall solicit bids for the entire scope of the project,

provided that the department may solicit bids for each phase of the

project if necessary or beneficial.

(d) In soliciting bids and determining the requirements for

the phased implementation of the project, the department shall:

(1) prioritize the efficient use of state resources;

and

(2) consider factors such as:

(A) the type of climate control systems needed

for each facility, including the architectural design of each

facility;

(B) the ability of any existing climate control

systems in each facility to maintain the air temperature in the

required temperature-controlled areas of the facility at not less

than 65 degrees Fahrenheit or more than 85 degrees Fahrenheit;

(C) the comparable abilities of different

climate control systems to maintain the temperature described by

Paragraph (B) of this subdivision, including the total cellblock or

dormitory square footage each system is capable of maintaining at

that temperature; and

(D) the use of inmate labor to decrease costs.

SECTION 2. This Act expires January 1, 2035.

SECTION 3. (a) The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is

required to implement a provision of this Act only if:

(1) the legislature allocates available federal funds

specifically for that purpose; or

(2) the legislature specifically appropriates state

funds to the department for the purpose of implementing a provision

of this Act.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (a)(2) of this section,

the Texas Department of Criminal Justice may not implement a

provision of this Act using state funds.

SECTION 4. 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, 2025.