TITLE: Relating to the solicitation of pen pals by certain inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

SUMMARY: Relating to the solicitation of pen pals by certain inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the solicitation of pen pals by certain inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 500, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 500.009 to read as follows: Sec. 500.009. PEN PAL SOLICITATION PROHIBITED. (a) This section applies only to an inmate confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the department who is serving a sentence for an offense for which registration as a sex offender is required under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure. (b) The department shall adopt a policy that prohibits an inmate described by Subsection (a) from placing an advertisement soliciting a pen pal on an Internet website operated for that purpose, regardless of whether another person submits or pays for the advertisement for the inmate. SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall adopt the policy required by Section 500.009, Government Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.