85R2898 MAW-D
By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 1041
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the review of privately operated residential facilities
for persons released on parole or to mandatory supervision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice.
(2) "Releasee" means a person released on parole or to
mandatory supervision.
SECTION 2. REVIEW OF RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES. The
department shall review instances in which a releasee housed in a
facility operated under contract with the department has absconded
from supervision, with a particular emphasis on facilities in which
the rate of absconsion exceeds the statewide average for all
facilities. The department shall analyze the factors that
contribute to releasees absconding, include to what extent a higher
rate of absconsion from a particular facility is attributable to
the types of releasees residing in the facility or to issues related
to the staff of the facility, and make recommendations regarding:
(1) improvements to the procedures used by the
department to:
(A) assess whether a releasee is likely to
abscond from supervision; and
(B) identify the appropriate residence for a
releasee; and
(2) legislative changes to the department's
contracting powers, including any provisions to:
(A) determine the most suitable private vendors
with which to contract for the housing, supervision, and
programmatic support of releasees; and
(B) establish minimum requirements for the
staffing of a facility housing releasees under a contract with the
department.
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2018, the
department shall report the results of the review and analysis
required by Section 2 of this Act and make recommendations to the
governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the standing legislative committees with
primary jurisdiction over the department.
SECTION 4. ASSISTANCE BY BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES. On
request of the department, the Board of Pardons and Paroles shall
provide information to the department or otherwise assist the
department in conducting the review and preparing the report
required by this Act.
SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. This Act expires June 1, 2019.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2017.