bill ordering a yearly inmate report, including post-release jobs

The text as introduced · 345 words

89R3708 JDK-D

By: West
S.B. No. 697

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an annual report by the Texas Department of Criminal

Justice on post-release or post-discharge employment and certain

other inmate data.

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. ANNUAL REPORT ON POST-RELEASE OR

POST-DISCHARGE EMPLOYMENT AND CERTAIN OTHER INMATE DATA. (a) Not

later than January 30 of each year, the department shall:

(1) submit to the legislature a report that includes:

(A) the number of inmates confined in a facility

operated by or under contract with the department during the

previous state fiscal year, disaggregated by offense, parole

eligibility, race, ethnicity, and gender;

(B) the following employment information for

inmates released or discharged from the department during the

previous state fiscal year:

(i) the average amount of time for the

inmate to obtain employment following release or discharge,

disaggregated by whether the inmate received training through

career and technical education programs organized or sponsored by

the department or the Windham School District; and

(ii) the number of inmates who applied for

and the number who received an occupational license following

release or discharge; and

(C) the following information for inmates

released or discharged from the department during the previous

three state fiscal years, disaggregated by facility of release or

discharge:

(i) the number of inmates employed,

categorized by industry; and

(ii) the median wage of the inmates

employed, categorized by industry; and

(2) publish the report on the department's Internet

website.

(b) The department may enter into an agreement with the

Texas Workforce Commission or other third parties as necessary to

facilitate the department's duties under Subsection (a).

(c) The board may adopt rules necessary to administer this

section.

SECTION 2. Not later than January 30, 2026, the Texas

Department of Criminal Justice shall submit the first report

required by Section 493.036(a), Government Code, as added by this

Act.

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