87R12499 LHC-D
By: White H.B. No. 4076
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a modernization plan for post-adjudication secure
correctional facilities operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department and a task force to evaluate those facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 203, Human Resources Code, is amended by
adding Section 203.020 to read as follows:
Sec. 203.020. PLAN TO MODERNIZE SECURE FACILITIES. (a) In
coordination with the regionalization plan described by Section
203.017, the department shall develop and implement a plan to
modernize the secure facilities operated by the department under
Subtitle C.
(b) The plan must:
(1) provide for methods to:
(A) reduce the department's deferred maintenance
costs;
(B) increase the energy efficiency of secure
facilities;
(C) direct cost savings to pay for health care
costs for children committed to the department;
(D) increase staffing efficiency; and
(E) increase correctional staff compensation;
(2) identify options for the department to contract
with private sector vendors to build and maintain secure facilities
to be leased by the department;
(3) require new facilities to meet the standards for
secure correctional facilities published by the American
Correctional Association; and
(4) require that new facilities be designed to:
(A) maximize the safety of correctional
officers, facility staff, and children committed to the custody of
the department;
(B) comply with any court-ordered remedy; and
(C) facilitate the rehabilitation and
reintegration into society of children committed to the custody of
the department.
(c) In developing the plan, the department shall consult
with stakeholders and experts.
(d) New facilities built under the plan may only be named
for juvenile correctional officers or staff who:
(1) were killed in the course of their employment with
the department; or
(2) made significant contributions to public safety in
this state.
SECTION 2. (a) A task force is established under this
section to conduct a thorough evaluation of the Texas Juvenile
Justice Department's secure correctional facilities.
(b) The governor shall appoint to the task force in a number
that the governor deems sufficient:
(1) members of the house of representatives and
senate;
(2) local government officials; and
(3) juvenile justice stakeholders.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2022, the task force shall
submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the
legislature recommendations regarding which secure correctional
facilities operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department should
be:
(1) renovated and continued in operation as a secure
correctional facility by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department;
(2) renovated and used for a purpose other than a
secure correctional facility by the Texas Juvenile Justice
Department; or
(3) repurposed by an entity other than the Texas
Juvenile Justice Department.
(d) The task force established under this section is
abolished December 1, 2022.
SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas
Juvenile Justice Department shall develop the plan required by
Section 203.020, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the governor shall make appointments to the task force
created by this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.