Bill Text: TX HB1435 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub

Texas House Bill 1435

Bill Title: Relating to family liaison officers in county jails.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-04-18 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB1435 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB1435-Comm_Sub.html

	88R20051 MCF-D

	By: J. Johnson of Harris, Romero, Jr.	H.B. No. 1435

	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1435:

	By: Tinderholt	C.S.H.B. No. 1435



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to family liaison officers in county jails.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by
	adding Section 511.024 to read as follows:
	Sec. 511.024. FAMILY LIAISON OFFICER. (a) The commission
	shall require the sheriff of a county to designate at least one
	employee at the county jail to serve as a family liaison officer for
	the jail to facilitate communication between prisoners and their
	families.
	(b) In making a designation under Subsection (a), the
	sheriff shall give preference to current employees with experience
	in social work, psychology, or a related field.
	(c) A family liaison officer shall:
	(1) on request, provide prisoners' families with
	information about the classification status, confinement status,
	and health of prisoners at the county jail;
	(2) notify prisoners' families within a reasonable
	time about emergencies involving prisoners, such as a medical
	emergency or death; and
	(3) notify prisoners within a reasonable time about
	emergencies involving their families, such as a medical emergency
	or death in the family, and provide prisoners with other necessary
	information relating to their families.
	(d) A family liaison officer may not disclose information
	under Subsection (c) about a prisoner's health unless the prisoner
	has authorized the release of the prisoner's medical information to
	that family member.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.