Sec. 351.201. COUNTY JAIL INDUSTRIES PROGRAM. (a) A commissioners court by order may establish a county jail industries program. The sheriff may allow inmate participation in the county jail industries program in carrying out his constitutional and statutory duties.

(b) The purposes for which a county jail industries program may be established are to:

(1) provide adequate, regular, and suitable employment for the vocational training of inmates;

(2) reimburse the county for expenses caused by the crimes of inmates and the cost of their confinement; or

(3) provide for the distribution of articles and products produced under this subchapter to:

(A) offices of the county and offices of political subdivisions located in whole or in part in the county; and

(B) nonprofit organizations that provide services to the general public and enhance social welfare and the general well-being of the community.

(c) A commissioners court, in an order establishing a county jail industries program, shall, with the approval of the sheriff:

(1) designate the county official or officials responsible for management of the program; and

(2) designate the county official or officials responsible for determining which inmates are allowed to participate in a county jail industries program.

(d) An order of a commissioners court establishing a county jail industries program, though not limited to, may provide for any of the following:

(1) an advisory committee;

(2) the priorities under which the county jail industries program is to be administered;

(3) procedures to determine the articles and products to be produced under this subchapter;

(4) procedures to determine the sales price of articles and products produced under this subchapter; and

(5) procedures for the development of specifications for articles and products produced under this subchapter.

(e) A county jail industries program may be operated at the county jail, workfarm, or workhouse or at any other suitable location.

(f) An inmate does not have a right to participate in a county jail industries program, and neither the sheriff, county judge, or commissioners nor any other county official or employee may be held liable for failing to provide a county jail industries program.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 578, Sec. 1, eff. June 11, 1993.