The bill, H.B. No. 1416, aims to enhance program accessibility for female inmates within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. It amends Section 501.027 of the Government Code to require the department to develop and implement policies that ensure female inmates have access to a variety of programs, including parenting classes, educational and vocational training, substance use treatment, rehabilitation, life skills training, and prerelease programs. The bill specifies that these programs must be made available to female inmates within 45 days of their arrival at a facility and mandates that the opportunities provided to female inmates be equitable to those available to male inmates.

Additionally, the bill requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to submit an annual report detailing any policy changes made to comply with the new requirements and to list the programs available to female inmates. This report must be submitted to various state officials and published on the department's website. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and emphasizes the importance of ensuring that vocational programs are relevant to current workforce demands.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 501.027 (Government Code 501)