H.B. No. 3649
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a policy regarding the receipt of books by mail by an
  inmate in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 501.0051 to read as follows:
         Sec. 501.0051.  RECEIPT OF BOOKS BY MAIL. (a) The
  department shall establish a policy that permits an inmate to
  receive by mail reference books and other educational materials
  from a volunteer organization that operates programs described by
  Section 501.009, regardless of whether the organization provides
  those programs to inmates housed in facilities operated by the
  department.
         (b)  The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement
  this section, including rules to:
               (1)  provide for screening of packages sent to inmates;
               (2)  prohibit inmates from receiving books that might
  assist them in committing crimes, such as books on escaping prison;
  and
               (3)  define the terms "reference books" and
  "educational materials."
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall
  establish the policy required by Section 501.0051, Government Code,
  as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3649 was passed by the House on May 6,
  2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 125, Nays 19, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3649 was passed by the Senate on May
  26, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor