1. (a) The department shall adopt a policy that requires department staff to identify volunteer and faith-based organizations that provide programs for inmates housed in facilities operated by the department. The policy must require the staff to actively encourage volunteer and faith-based organizations to provide the following programs for inmates in department facilities:

   1. (1) literacy and education programs;
   2. (2) life skills programs;
   3. (3) job skills programs;
   4. (4) parent-training programs;
   5. (5) drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs;
   6. (6) support group programs;
   7. (7) arts and crafts programs; and
   8. (8) other programs determined by the department to aid inmates in the transition between confinement and society and to reduce incidence of recidivism among inmates.
2. (b) The policy must require the staff to solicit feedback from the warden and chaplains of each facility on the facility's needs regarding volunteer and faith-based organization provided programs.

3. (c) The department shall include in the biennial report required under Section 493.0084(f) a summary of:

   1. (1) the programs provided to inmates under this section; and
   2. (2) the actions taken to identify volunteer and faith-based organizations willing to provide programs to inmates and to encourage those organizations to provide programs in the department facilities.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 212, Sec. 2.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Renumbered from Sec. 500.009 and amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 16, Sec. 10.01(a), eff. Aug. 26, 1991.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 321, Sec. 1.076, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1406 (S.B. 345), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1022 (S.B. 2405), Sec. 50, eff. September 1, 2025.