Jones Bill Orders Yearly Prison Solitary Reports, Starting 2027

The text as introduced · 560 words

89R16152 MCF-F

By: Jones of Dallas
H.B. No. 4764

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an annual report on the use of administrative

segregation in facilities operated by or under contract with the

Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by

adding Section 493.036 to read as follows:

Sec. 493.036. REPORT ON USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SEGREGATION.

(a) In this section:

(1) "Administrative segregation" includes solitary

confinement, confinement on death row, and any other form of

restrictive housing.

(2) "Offender" means an inmate or state jail defendant

confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the

department.

(3) "Rehabilitative program" means a program,

including an activity or service, provided for the purpose of

improving the behavioral, psychological, educational, or

vocational outcome of an offender.

(b) Not later than January 31 of each year, the department

shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,

and each member of the legislature a report on the use of

administrative segregation in facilities operated by or under

contract with the department.

(c) The report described by Subsection (b) must include the

following information for each facility operated by or under

contract with the department:

(1) the name, race, sex, and age of each offender

placed in administrative segregation;

(2) the offense or behavior for which each offender

was placed in administrative segregation;

(3) the number of times each offender was placed in

administrative segregation;

(4) the total time each offender placed in

administrative segregation spent in administrative segregation;

(5) other types of placements offered by each facility

that are similar to administrative segregation, including

quarantine and lockdown;

(6) the types of rehabilitative programs made

available to offenders placed in administrative segregation;

(7) staffing ratios for administrative segregation

units;

(8) the total number of administrative segregation

beds used at each facility;

(9) the mental health diagnoses of offenders placed in

administrative segregation;

(10) whether an offender placed in administrative

segregation received a new mental health diagnosis or required

mental health treatment during or shortly after the placement;

(11) whether an offender placed in administrative

segregation experienced severe mental or physical distress such

that the offender required immediate medical or psychiatric

attention;

(12) whether an offender placed in administrative

segregation attempted or committed suicide or engaged in self-harm

during or shortly after the placement;

(13) whether an offender placed in administrative

segregation appealed the offender's placement and the outcome of

each appeal;

(14) whether the length of a placement in

administrative segregation was reduced and the reason for each

reduction; and

(15) the number of offenders placed in administrative

segregation who had the length of their placement reduced because

of a successful completion of a rehabilitative program.

(d) If the department fails to timely or accurately submit a

report required by this section, the department shall prepare and

submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and each member of

the legislature a corrective action plan outlining how the

department will correct deficiencies in the timeliness or accuracy

of future reports.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 493.036, Government

Code, as added by this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice

is not required to submit the initial report required by that

section until January 31, 2027.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.