1. (a) The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the executive commissioner by rule shall adopt a memorandum of understanding that establishes the respective responsibilities of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Department of State Health Services, and the Health and Human Services Commission to institute a continuity of care and service program for offenders in the criminal justice system who are persons with physical disabilities, terminal illnesses, or significant illnesses. The council shall coordinate and monitor the development and implementation of the memorandum of understanding.

2. (b) The memorandum of understanding must establish methods for:

   1. (1) identifying offenders in the criminal justice system who are persons with physical disabilities, terminal illnesses, or significant illnesses;
   2. (2) developing interagency rules, policies, and procedures for the coordination of care of and the exchange of information on offenders who are persons with physical disabilities, terminal illnesses, or significant illnesses by local and state criminal justice agencies, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Department of State Health Services, and the Health and Human Services Commission; and
   3. (3) identifying the services needed by offenders who are persons with physical disabilities, terminal illnesses, or significant illnesses to reenter the community successfully.

3. (c) The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Department of State Health Services, and the Health and Human Services Commission shall:

   1. (1) operate, with funds appropriated for that purpose, the continuity of care and service program for offenders in the criminal justice system who are persons with physical disabilities, terminal illnesses, or significant illnesses; and
   2. (2) actively seek federal grants or funds to operate and expand the program.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 488, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 835, Sec. 26, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1306 (S.B. 839), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.1494, eff. April 2, 2015.

Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1022 (S.B. 2405), Sec. 100, eff. September 1, 2025.