H.B. No. 5639 proposes the establishment of a veteran housing program by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, specifically designed for inmates who are veterans. To qualify, these inmates must have served at least 180 days on active duty in the U.S. armed forces and have received an honorable discharge. The bill mandates the creation of dedicated cellblocks or dormitories for these veterans and outlines procedures for verifying eligibility during the diagnostic process. Additionally, it allows veterans to opt into the specialized housing.

The bill also stipulates that while housing veterans, the department must adhere to existing safety requirements and cannot place an inmate in the dedicated housing if it poses a risk to the safety or security of others. Furthermore, it allows for the possibility of using the dedicated housing for non-veteran inmates if necessary. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is required to implement this program as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025.

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