1. (a) The department shall develop and implement policies that increase and promote a female inmate's access to programs offered to inmates in the custody of the department, including educational, vocational, substance use treatment, rehabilitation, life skills training, and prerelease programs. The department may not reduce or limit a male inmate's access to a program to meet the requirements of this section.

2. (b) Not later than December 31 of each year, the department shall:

   1. (1) prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, each standing committee of the legislature having primary jurisdiction over the department, and the reentry task force described by Section 501.098 a written report that includes:

      1. (A) a description of any department policies that were created, modified, or eliminated during the preceding year to meet the requirements of this section; and
      2. (B) a list of programs available to female inmates in the custody of the department during the preceding year; and

   2. (2) publish the report on the department's Internet website.

      Redesignated from Government Code, Section 501.026 by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 915 (H.B. 3607), Sec. 21.001(31), eff. September 1, 2021.

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1163 (H.B. 3227), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019.