(a) The department shall establish a policy that permits an inmate to receive by mail reference books and other educational materials from a volunteer organization that operates programs described by § 501.009, regardless of whether the organization provides those programs to inmates housed in facilities operated by the department.
(b) The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this section, including rules to:
(1) provide for screening of packages sent to inmates;
(2) prohibit inmates from receiving books that might assist them in committing crimes, such as books on escaping prison; and
(3) define the terms “reference books” and “educational materials.”