84R8505 JRR-F
 
  By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 890
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to restricting the use of administrative segregation by
  the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for certain inmates.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 501.068 to read as follows:
         Sec. 501.068.  PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN INMATES WITH SERIOUS
  MENTAL ILLNESS. (a) In this section, "inmate with a serious mental
  illness" means an inmate confined by the department who has a
  substantial disorder of thought or mood that significantly impairs
  the inmate's judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or
  ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life. The term
  includes an inmate who has current symptoms of or is receiving
  treatment for:
               (1)  any of the following Axis I diagnoses as defined by
  the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and
  Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition:
                     (A)  schizophrenia, including any schizophrenia
  subtype;
                     (B)  delusional disorder;
                     (C)  schizophreniform disorder;
                     (D)  schizoaffective disorder;
                     (E)  brief psychotic disorder;
                     (F)  substance-induced psychotic disorder, other
  than intoxication or withdrawal;
                     (G)  bipolar disorder I or II;
                     (H)  major depressive disorder; or
                     (I)  any other psychotic disorder;
               (2)  a mental disorder that includes being actively
  suicidal;
               (3)  a mental illness that is frequently characterized
  by breaks with reality or perceptions of reality that lead to
  significant functional impairment;
               (4)  an organic brain syndrome that results in
  significant functional impairment if not treated;
               (5)  a severe personality disorder that is manifested
  by frequent episodes of psychosis or depression and results in
  significant functional impairment; or
               (6)  an intellectual disability with significant
  functional impairment.
         (b)  The department, in conjunction with each managed health
  care provider network established under Section 501.147, shall
  establish a diversion program that is designed to:
               (1)  remove inmates with a serious mental illness from
  administrative segregation; and
               (2)  prevent the initial placement of inmates with a
  serious mental illness in administrative segregation.
         (c)  Each program established under this section must:
               (1)  focus on stabilizing inmates with a serious mental
  illness by placing the inmates in less restrictive housing; and
               (2)  include policies and practices, scaled over a
  three-year period, that will divert not less than 90 percent of
  inmates with a serious mental illness from administrative
  segregation to less restrictive housing.
         (d)  The department shall report to the legislature not later
  than January 15 of each odd-numbered year the results of each
  program, including:
               (1)  the number of program participants that
  successfully integrate into a less restrictive housing placement;
               (2)  the recidivism rates for inmates with a serious
  mental illness, including those that participate in each program;
  and 
               (3)  any additional data or information the legislature
  or the department considers relevant to assessing the program.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 501, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 501.0961 to read as follows:
         Sec. 501.0961.  REENTRY STEP-DOWN PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN
  INMATES IN ADMINISTRATIVE SEGREGATION. (a) The department, in
  conjunction with each managed health care provider network
  established under Section 501.147, shall establish a program for
  inmates who:
               (1)  are projected to be released or discharged from
  the department in 180 days or less; and
               (2)  have been confined in administrative segregation
  for at least 180 consecutive days and would otherwise remain in
  administrative segregation until release or discharge.
         (b)  Each program established under this section must:
               (1)  house inmates described by Subsection (a) in a
  residential, therapeutic housing unit within a correctional
  facility in lieu of confinement in administrative segregation;
               (2)  provide clinically appropriate and habilitative
  programs and services to the inmates with the goal of ensuring
  successful reentry; and
               (3)  focus on building prosocial behaviors and reducing
  the likelihood of recidivism.
         (c)  The department shall report to the legislature not later
  than January 15 of each odd-numbered year the results of each
  program, including the recidivism rates of inmates who participate
  in each program.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.