85R505 MAW-D     By: Taylor of Collin S.B. No. 1612       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the solicitation of pen pals by certain inmates of the   Texas Department of Criminal Justice.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 500, Government Code, is amended by   adding Section 500.009 to read as follows:          Sec. 500.009.  PEN PAL SOLICITATION PROHIBITED. (a) This   section applies only to an inmate confined in a facility operated by   or under contract with the department who is serving a sentence for   an offense for which registration as a sex offender is required   under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure.          (b)  The department shall adopt a policy that prohibits an   inmate described by Subsection (a) from placing an advertisement   soliciting a pen pal on an Internet website operated for that   purpose, regardless of whether another person submits or pays for   the advertisement for the inmate.          SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2017, the Texas   Department of Criminal Justice shall adopt the policy required by   Section 500.009, Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.