Texas Senate Bill SB262

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Caption

Relating to the reporting of criminal disposition completeness percentage data.

Impact

The legislative intent behind SB262 is to ensure that counties maintain a minimum standard regarding the reporting of criminal disposition data. If a county fails to achieve the set threshold, it will have to engage in mandatory improvement plans and oversight, involving the Texas Department of Public Safety in monitoring progress. This creates a system of checks and balances aimed at facilitating better law enforcement practices and accurate record-keeping. Critics may argue about the additional administrative burdens this may impose on local jurisdictions, particularly smaller counties with limited resources.

Summary

SB262 addresses the issue of criminal disposition completeness in local jurisdictions, specifically targeting counties with an average completeness percentage below 90%. The bill mandates that these counties must form a local data advisory board tasked with creating a data reporting improvement plan. This plan aims to enhance the efficiency of reporting criminal disposition data and ensure accuracy in local justice systems. Overall, the bill focuses on improving transparency and accountability within law enforcement and judicial processes. The premise is that accurate data reporting is crucial for effective crime analysis and resource allocation in the criminal justice system.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding SB262 is the potential strain it may place on smaller counties that may struggle to meet the reporting requirements due to resource constraints. While the bill aims to standardize data reporting and enhance the quality of criminal justice statistics, there are concerns regarding local control and the ability of these jurisdictions to adapt to these new obligations. Opponents might contend that imposing such mandates could lead to unfunded requirements and an unintended distraction from other critical local initiatives.

Key_provisions

The bill specifies that counties that do not achieve the required 90% reporting completeness will be prompted to implement a local data improvement plan, which must be submitted annually to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The bill also outlines the mechanism for certifying counties receiving state funding for criminal justice programs, ensuring that they meet the established data reporting thresholds. In essence, SB262 strengthens the linkage between data accuracy and funding for criminal justice initiatives, while aiming to bolster the integrity of local law enforcement data.