81R8850 HLT-F
By: Turner of Harris H.B. No. 2162
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Reentry Policy Task Force to review
corrections policies, programs, and procedures for inmates
released into the community.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 501, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. REENTRY POLICY TASK FORCE
Sec. 501.191. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force"
means the Reentry Policy Task Force.
Sec. 501.192. TASK FORCE; COMPOSITION. (a) The Reentry
Policy Task Force is created to advise the department, the Texas
Youth Commission, and the Department of State Health Services on
policies, programs, and procedures for inmates released into the
community.
(b) The task force is composed of 23 members consisting of:
(1) the executive director of the department or the
executive director's designee;
(2) the executive commissioner of the Texas Youth
Commission or the executive commissioner's designee;
(3) the commissioner of the Department of State Health
Services or the commissioner's designee;
(4) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission or the executive commissioner's designee;
(5) the attorney general or the attorney general's
designee;
(6) the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals or the presiding judge's designee;
(7) the executive director of the Texas District and
County Attorneys Association or the executive director's designee;
(8) the executive director of the Texas Criminal
Defense Lawyers Association or the executive director's designee;
(9) three members appointed by the governor,
consisting of:
(A) one law enforcement officer;
(B) one corrections official; and
(C) one person who has been a victim of crime;
(10) six members appointed by the lieutenant governor,
consisting of:
(A) three members of the senate;
(B) one person who specializes in issues related
to halfway houses and the reintegration of inmates;
(C) one representative of a nonprofit entity
involved with the reintegration of inmates; and
(D) one district attorney or the district
attorney's designee; and
(11) six members appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives, consisting of:
(A) three members of the house of
representatives;
(B) one representative of a faith-based
organization involved with the reintegration of inmates;
(C) one person who was convicted of a criminal
offense in this state; and
(D) one mental health and substance abuse
official.
Sec. 501.193. DUTIES; ANNUAL REPORT. (a) The task force
shall:
(1) review corrections policies, programs, and
procedures to ensure that they have as their primary purpose public
safety;
(2) establish goals for reducing the rate of
recidivism among former inmates;
(3) make recommendations concerning the coordination
of reentry programs and services for former inmates to help those
inmates obtain jobs, housing, substance abuse treatment, medical
care, and mental health services following their release;
(4) identify gaps and overlapping efforts in reentry
programs and services for former inmates and recommend changes to
address those issues;
(5) identify methods to improve the coordination of
reentry programs and services, including:
(A) cross-training;
(B) the use of management information systems
accessible to partner agencies; and
(C) the use of screening procedures to assess the
specific needs of former inmates and refer those inmates to
entities that provide appropriate services;
(6) identify practices that have proven to be
effective in reentry support, treatment, and intervention;
(7) communicate regularly with local agencies and
faith-based and community organizations that provide appropriate
programs and services;
(8) encourage the increased use of family-based
treatment centers and parenting skills programs for former inmates
and, as feasible, for inmates who are within one year of being
released;
(9) review policies to ensure that correctional
facilities recruit and welcome volunteers;
(10) evaluate and make recommendations concerning the
extent to which persons who supervise inmates in a correctional
facility are in contact with persons and entities who will
supervise those inmates following their release; and
(11) include victims in the reentry process and
facilitate dialogue between former inmates and victims who are
willing to communicate with those inmates.
(b) Not later than September 1 of each calendar year, the
task force shall deliver a report of the task force's findings and
recommendations to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, the standing committees of
each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over
criminal justice matters, the executive director of the department,
the executive commissioner of the Texas Youth Commission, and the
commissioner of the Department of State Health Services.
Sec. 501.194. TENURE OF MEMBERS. (a) An appointed member
of the task force serves at the pleasure of the appointing officer.
(b) A member who serves on the task force by virtue of the
member's office serves on the task force so long as the member holds
that office.
Sec. 501.195. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of
the task force serves without compensation but is entitled to
reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of official task force duties out of funds appropriated
to the department for that purpose.
Sec. 501.196. OFFICERS. (a) The speaker of the house of
representatives shall designate a member of the task force to serve
as chairperson of the task force. The lieutenant governor shall
designate a member to serve as vice-chairperson of the task force.
The task force shall elect any other officers from among its
members.
(b) Each officer of the task force serves for a term of one
year.
(c) The task force shall fill a vacancy in a task force
office for the unexpired term.
Sec. 501.197. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at the
call of the chairperson.
Sec. 501.198. GRANTS AND DONATIONS. The task force may
accept grants and donations from public and private entities.
Sec. 501.199. SUNSET PROVISION. The task force is subject
to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as
provided by that chapter, the task force is abolished and this
subchapter expires September 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than the 60th day after the
effective date of this Act, the governor, the lieutenant governor,
and the speaker of the house of representatives shall make the
appointments required by Section 501.192, Government Code, as added
by this Act.
(b) The chairperson of the Reentry Policy Task Force shall
convene the first meeting of the task force under Section 501.197,
Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 1,
2009.
(c) The Reentry Policy Task Force shall submit the first
report required by Section 501.193, Government Code, as added by
this Act, not later than September 1, 2011.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.