Sec. 497.002.  PURPOSE;  IMPLEMENTATION.  (a)  The purposes of the office are to implement this subchapter and Subchapter B  to:
(1)  provide work program participants with marketable job skills to help reduce recidivism through a coordinated program of:
(A)  job skills training;
(B)  documentation of work history;  and
(C)  access to resources provided by Project RIO and the Texas Workforce Commission, including access to resources provided through assistance to local workforce development boards in referring work program participants to the Project RIO employment referral services provided under Section 306.002, Labor Code;  and
(2)  reduce department costs by providing products and articles for the department and providing products or articles for sale on a for-profit basis to the public or to agencies of the state or political subdivisions of the state.
(b)  To implement the purposes of the office, the department may establish and operate a prison industries program at each correctional facility that the department considers suitable for such a program.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 212, Sec. 2.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.  Renumbered from Sec. 496.002 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. 1.030, eff. Sept. 1, 1995;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1409, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1188, Sec. 1.16, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.