Some may not be too keen to hear this, but the Texas House has just passed a bill that would make prisoners in the Lone Star State feel a little more comfortable.
Before you pick up the pitchforks, it’s regarding air conditioning units in prisons across the state.
As it stands, Texas law does not currently require climate control inside state-run lockups, meaning the vast majority do not have air conditioning in all of the inmate housing areas.
So you can probably imagine, it can get pretty hot.
Senate Bill 1708 would require the temperature inside these units to be kept between 65 and 86 degrees, the same as it is in county jails.
Reports say temperatures inside 72% of state-run jails and prisons reached at least 95 degrees last summer, and in 15 facilities it topped 100 degrees.
Bill author Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, says this new bill not only benefits prisoners, but guards as well, explaining that the state prison agency had a turnover rate of 40% within the first year of employment.
“Nobody wants to work in the prisons because the climate control is not there,” he added.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD