Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 501.150. QUALITY OF CARE MONITORING BY THE DEPARTMENT AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. (a) The committee shall establish a procedure for monitoring the quality of care delivered by the health care providers. Under the procedure, the department shall monitor the quality of care del…

Sec. 501.151. COMPLAINTS. (a) The committee shall maintain a file on each written complaint filed with the committee by a member of the general public. The file must include: (1) the name of the person who filed the complaint; (2) the date the complaint is received by the committ…

Sec. 501.152. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. The committee shall develop and implement policies that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the committee and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the committee. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1190, …

Sec. 501.153. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. (a) The committee shall develop and implement a policy to encourage the use of appropriate alternative dispute resolution procedures under Chapter 2009 to assist in the resolution of internal and external disputes under the committee'…

Sec. 501.154. USE OF TECHNOLOGY. The committee shall implement a policy requiring the committee to use appropriate technological solutions to improve the committee's ability to perform its functions. The policy must ensure that the public is able to interact with the committee on…

Sec. 501.155. AVAILABILITY OF CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. (a) The committee shall ensure that the following information is available to the public: (1) contracts between the department, the committee, and health care providers, and other information concer…

Sec. 501.156. STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. (a) From funds appropriated for purposes of correctional managed health care, the committee may provide student loan repayment assistance for medical and mental health care physicians and other staff providing correctional managed …

Sec. 501.171. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Correctional facility" means a facility operated by or under contract with the department. (2) "Inmate" means an inmate or state jail defendant confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the department. Added by A…

Sec. 501.172. APPOINTMENT OF OMBUDSPERSON. The board shall appoint an ombudsperson to coordinate the department's efforts to eliminate the occurrence of sexual assault in correctional facilities. The ombudsperson shall report to the board. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.…

Sec. 501.173. POWERS AND DUTIES OF OMBUDSPERSON. (a) The ombudsperson shall: (1) monitor department policies for the prevention of sexual assault in correctional facilities; (2) oversee the administrative investigation of inmate complaints of sexual assault; (3) ensure the impart…

Sec. 501.174. DEPARTMENT TO ADOPT POLICY. The department shall adopt a policy providing for: (1) a designated administrator at each correctional facility to post information throughout the facility describing how an inmate may confidentially contact the ombudsperson regarding a s…

Sec. 501.175. OMBUDSPERSON TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC CERTAIN INFORMATION. The ombudsperson shall make available to the public and appropriate state agencies: (1) information regarding the powers and duties of the ombudsperson; and (2) statistical information regarding the total…

Sec. 501.176. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Not later than January 1 of each year, the ombudsperson shall submit a written report regarding the activities of the ombudsperson during the preceding fiscal year to: (1) the governor; (2) the lieutenant governor; (3) the speaker of the house of …

Sec. 501.177. STATE AUDITOR AUDITS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION NOT IMPAIRED. This subchapter or other law related to the operation of the ombudsperson or the office of the inspector general does not prohibit the state auditor from conducting an audit, investigation…

Sec. 501.178. AUTHORITY OF STATE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT TIMELY AUDITS NOT IMPAIRED. This subchapter or other law related to the operation of the ombudsperson or the office of the inspector general does not take precedence over the authority of the state auditor to conduct an audit un…

Sec. 507.001. AUTHORITY TO OPERATE OR CONTRACT FOR STATE JAIL FELONY FACILITIES. (a) The department may operate, maintain, and manage state jail felony facilities to confine inmates described by Section 507.002, and the department may finance and construct those facilities. The d…

Sec. 507.002. ELIGIBLE DEFENDANTS. The department may confine in a state jail felony facility authorized by this subchapter defendants required by a judge to serve a term of confinement in a state jail felony facility following a grant of deferred adjudication for or conviction o…

Sec. 507.006. USE OF FACILITY FOR OTHER INMATES. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the department, with the approval of the board, may designate one or more state jail felony facilities to treat inmates who are eligible for confinement in a substance abu…

Sec. 507.022. EMPLOYEES' SALARIES, ROOM AND BOARD, AND MEDICAL CARE. (a) Salaries of department employees assigned to a state jail felony facility and the provision of board, lodging, uniforms, and other provisions to employees are as provided by the General Appropriations Act. (…

Sec. 507.023. AIDS AND HIV EDUCATION; TESTING. (a) The department shall establish and provide education programs to educate department employees and defendants in state jail felony facilities about AIDS and HIV in the same manner as the institutional division establishes and prov…

Sec. 507.024. TRANSPORTATION OF DEFENDANTS. The board shall adopt rules to provide for the safe transfer of defendants from counties to state jail felony facilities. A sheriff may transport defendants to a state jail felony facility if the sheriff is able to perform the service a…

Sec. 507.025. MEDICAL CARE. The department, with the approval of the board, may contract with a private vendor or any public health care provider for the provision of medical services to defendants in state jail felony facilities. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 988, Sec. 1.07…

Sec. 507.026. CHANGE IN DESIGNATION OF FACILITY. The board may designate any facility under its control as a state jail felony facility and confine state jail felons in that facility. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 988, Sec. 1.07, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 507.027. INSPECTIONS. The board shall adopt rules relating to inspections by the department of state jail felony facility construction projects. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 988, Sec. 1.07, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Sec. 507.028. SCREENING FOR AND EDUCATION CONCERNING FETAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY. (a) The department shall establish and use a screening program in state jail felony facilities that is substantially similar to the program established and used by the department under S…

Sec. 507.029. USE OF INMATE LABOR. The department may use the labor of inmates of the institutional division in any work or community service program or project performed by a state jail felony facility. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 321, Sec. 1.100, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amen…

Sec. 507.030. VISITATION. (a) In this section: (1) "Guardian" has the meaning assigned by Section 1002.012, Estates Code. (2) "Letters of guardianship" means a certificate issued under Section 1106.001(a), Estates Code. (a-1) The department shall allow the governor, members of th…

Sec. 507.031. FURLOUGH PROGRAM. (a) The director of a state jail felony facility may grant a furlough to a defendant so that the defendant may: (1) obtain a medical diagnosis or medical treatment; (2) obtain treatment and supervision at a facility operated by the Health and Human…

Sec. 507.032. IDENTIFICATION OF DEFENDANTS SUBJECT TO ARREST WARRANT. Before a defendant is released from confinement in a state jail felony facility, the department shall conduct a criminal history record check to determine whether the defendant is the subject of an arrest warra…

Sec. 507.033. REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. (a) The department may allow a state jail defendant who is capable of serving as a tutor to tutor functionally illiterate defendants and shall actively encourage volunteer organizations to aid in the tutoring of defendants. A person who acts…

Sec. 507.034. VETERANS REENTRY DORM PROGRAM. (a) The department, in coordination with the Texas Veterans Commission, shall establish and administer a voluntary rehabilitation and transition program for defendants confined in state jail felony facilities: (1) who are veterans of t…

Sec. 508.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Board" means the Board of Pardons and Paroles. (2) "Community supervision and corrections department" means a department established under Chapter 76. (3) "Director" means the director of the parole division. (4) "Division" means t…

Sec. 508.002. CLEMENCY, COMMUTATION DISTINGUISHED. Neither parole nor mandatory supervision is a commutation of sentence or any other form of clemency. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 12.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 508.003. INAPPLICABLE TO JUVENILES AND CERTAIN INMATES. (a) This chapter does not apply to an emergency absence under escort granted to an inmate by the institutional division under Section 501.006. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), this chapter does not apply to rel…

Sec. 508.031. COMPOSITION OF BOARD. (a) The board consists of seven members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. (b) Appointments to the board must be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the…

Sec. 508.032. REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP. (a) Board members must be representative of the general public. (b) A member must have resided in this state for the two years before appointment. (c)(1) A person who is a former employee of the department may not serve on the board befo…

Sec. 508.033. DISQUALIFICATIONS. (a) A person is not eligible for appointment as a member of the board or for employment as a parole commissioner if the person or the person's spouse: (1) is employed by or participates in the management of a business entity or other organization …

Sec. 508.034. GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL. (a) It is a ground for removal from the board that a member: (1) does not have at the time of taking office the qualification required by Section 508.032(b) for appointment to the board; (2) is ineligible for membership under Section 508.033; (3…

Sec. 508.035. PRESIDING OFFICER. (a) The governor shall designate one member to serve as presiding officer of the board. (b) The presiding officer serves in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor. (c) The presiding officer reports directly to the governor and serves as the…

Sec. 508.036. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES. (a) The presiding officer shall: (1) develop and implement policies that clearly separate the policy-making responsibilities of the board and the management responsibilities of the board administrator, parole commissioners, and the sta…

Sec. 508.0362. TRAINING REQUIRED. (a) A person who is appointed to and qualifies for office as a member of the board may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of the board until the person completes a training program that complies with this s…

Sec. 508.037. TERMS; REMOVAL. (a) A board member holds office for a term of six years. (b) The terms of one-third of the members expire February 1 of each odd-numbered year. (c) The governor may remove a board member, other than a member appointed by another governor, at any time…

Sec. 508.038. VACANCIES. If a vacancy occurs, the governor shall appoint in the same manner as other appointments are made a person to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 12.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 508.039. COMPENSATION. A board member is paid the salary the legislature determines in the General Appropriations Act. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 12.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Sec. 508.040. PERSONNEL. (a) The presiding officer is responsible for the employment and supervision of: (1) parole commissioners; (2) a general counsel to the board; (3) a board administrator to manage the day-to-day activities of the board; (4) hearing officers; (5) personnel t…

Sec. 508.041. DESIGNEE TRAINING; HANDBOOK. (a) The board shall develop and implement: (1) a training program that each newly hired employee of the board designated to conduct hearings under Section 508.281 must complete before conducting a hearing without the assistance of a boar…