Sec. 501.174. DEPARTMENT TO ADOPT POLICY. The department shall adopt a policy providing for:
(1) a designated administrator at each correctional facility to post information throughout the facility describing how an inmate may confidentially contact the ombudsperson regarding a sexual assault;
(2) an inmate to write a confidential letter to the ombudsperson regarding a sexual assault;
(3) employees at correctional facilities, on notification of the occurrence of a sexual assault, to immediately:
(A) contact the ombudsperson and the office of the inspector general; and
(B) ensure that the alleged victim is safe;
(4) the office of the inspector general, at the time the office is notified of the sexual assault, to arrange for a medical examination of the alleged victim to be conducted in accordance with Subchapter G, Chapter 56A, Code of Criminal Procedure, or, if an appropriate employee of the office of the inspector general is not available at the time the office is notified of the sexual assault, a qualified employee at the correctional facility to conduct a medical examination of the alleged victim in accordance with that subchapter;
(5) a grievance proceeding under Section 501.008 based on an alleged sexual assault to be exempt from any deadline applicable to grievances initiated under that section; and
(6) each correctional facility to collect statistics on all alleged sexual assaults against inmates confined in the facility and to report the statistics to the ombudsperson.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1217 (H.B. 1944), Sec. 3, eff. June 15, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B. 4173), Sec. 2.47, eff. January 1, 2021.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 206 (S.B. 1401), Sec. 17, eff. September 1, 2023.