HBA-CMT H.B. 124 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 124 By: West, George "Buddy" Corrections 2/23/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas law allows certain inmates of the institutional division access to weight-lifting equipment, television, and radio. While the state is required to feed and clothe an inmate, it is not obligated to provide them with any equipment facilitating recreation. House Bill 124 requires an institutional division to prohibit access by certain inmates to specified recreational amenities, including weight-lifting equipment, television, and radio. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 124 amends the Government Code to prohibit the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (institutional division) from allowing an inmate classified as subject to close custody or administrative segregation, other than an inmate classified as subject to administrative segregation level I protective custody, access to weight-lifting equipment or accessories unless that use is in connection with physician recommended physical therapy, or use of a television other than in connection with a programmatic activity, such as a work, educational, or vocational activity. H.B. 124 authorizes the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to use money appropriated from the general revenue fund to pay the cost of purchasing or maintaining recreational equipment to be used by an inmate confined in the institutional division only if the money is appropriated out of receipts deposited to the general revenue fund from the education and recreation fund, or the equipment is used exclusively in connection with the physician recommended physical therapy or a programmatic activity such as work, educational, or vocational activity. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.