88R2802 BDP-D
By: Allen, Jones of Dallas, Garcia, et al. H.B. No. 965
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to post-release housing for inmates released on parole or
to mandatory supervision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 508.157, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read
as follows:
(b) The [If the department does not operate or contract for
the operation of a residential correctional facility in the county
of legal residence of an inmate or releasee, the] department may
issue, for an inmate described by Subsection (a) or for a releasee,
payment for the cost of temporary post-release housing that:
(1) meets any conditions or requirements imposed by a
parole panel;
(2) meets or exceeds the standards developed by the
Reentry Housing Task Force; and
(3) is located in the county of legal residence of the
inmate or releasee[; and
[(3) except as provided by Subsection (e-1), is in a
structure that existed on June 1, 2009, as a multifamily residence
or as a motel to which Section 156.001, Tax Code, applies].
(f) The department shall actively seek grants from any
source for the purpose of expanding the use of temporary
post-release housing payments under Subsection (b) as an
alternative to housing an inmate described by Subsection (a) or a
releasee in a residential correctional facility. Notwithstanding
Subsection (d), the department may issue payments under Subsection
(b) out of grant funds received for that purpose.
(g) The department shall:
(1) prioritize the use of temporary post-release
housing payments under Subsection (b) to reduce the average number
of days an inmate described by Subsection (a) or a releasee is
housed in a residential correctional facility; and
(2) reduce the number of inmates or releasees housed
in a residential correctional facility if the department determines
that the issuance of payments under Subsection (b) increases the
availability of temporary post-release housing that meets or
exceeds the standards described by Subsection (b)(2).
SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 508.158 to read as follows:
Sec. 508.158. POST-RELEASE HOUSING PLANNING PROCEDURE AND
REPORT. (a) In this section, "residential correctional facility"
has the meaning assigned by Section 508.157.
(b) The department shall implement a post-release housing
planning procedure for releasees that includes the early
identification and assessment of inmates who do not have an
established plan for housing following release on parole or to
mandatory supervision.
(c) In implementing the post-release housing planning
procedure, the department shall create an assessment to identify:
(1) inmates who are low-risk and would benefit from
the use of temporary post-release housing payments under Section
508.157(b); and
(2) inmates who require more intensive planning for
post-release housing.
(d) Not later than February 1 of each year, the department
shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker
of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the
legislature with primary jurisdiction over the department a report
that includes the following information for the preceding year:
(1) the number of inmates described by Subsection (b)
and the department's efforts to find post-release housing for those
inmates;
(2) the department's efforts to reduce the length of
time between an inmate's parole approval and the release of the
inmate on parole for an inmate described by Subsection (b);
(3) the department's efforts to expand post-release
housing options in local communities, including post-release
housing that meets or exceeds the standards developed by the
Reentry Housing Task Force;
(4) the average number of days a releasee is housed in
a residential correctional facility; and
(5) the number of releasees who absconded from a
residential correctional facility.
SECTION 3. Section 508.157(e-1), Government Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 4. (a) In this section:
(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice.
(2) "Releasee" has the meaning assigned by Section
508.001, Government Code.
(3) "Task force" means the Reentry Housing Task Force
established under this section.
(b) The Reentry Housing Task Force is established and is
composed of members appointed by the executive director of the
department. The task force must include at least one
representative from each of the following entities:
(1) the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Affairs;
(2) the Texas Veterans Commission;
(3) a nonprofit organization that is engaged in
creating recovery housing options in this state;
(4) a nonprofit organization that advocates for
persons who are required to register as a sex offender under Chapter
62, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(5) a nonprofit organization for family members of
persons who are incarcerated; and
(6) a nonprofit organization that operates a Continuum
of Care program funded wholly or partly by the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(c) Not later than November 1, 2023, the executive director
of the department shall:
(1) appoint the members of the task force; and
(2) designate a member as the presiding officer of the
task force.
(d) A member of the task force is not entitled to
compensation for service on the task force but is entitled to
reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by the member while
conducting the business of the task force as provided by the General
Appropriations Act.
(e) The task force shall:
(1) evaluate strategies for improving post-release
housing for releasees, including:
(A) methods to provide housing options for
releasees that are in addition to housing provided by residential
correctional facilities, as that term is defined by Section
508.157, Government Code; and
(B) the feasibility of expanding the use of
housing vouchers or other payments for the post-release housing of
releasees;
(2) develop standards for post-release housing for
releasees that are consistent with nationally recognized standards
for recovery housing;
(3) develop a post-release housing planning procedure
for releasees that the department may implement that includes the
early identification and assessment of inmates who do not have an
established plan for housing following release on parole or to
mandatory supervision; and
(4) develop recommendations to address the risk of
homelessness for releasees who are unable to find suitable
post-release housing.
(f) Not later than December 1, 2024, the task force shall
prepare and submit to the department and the legislature a written
report on the task force's findings under this section. The report
must include the standards, procedures, and recommendations
developed under Subsection (e) of this section.
(g) The task force is abolished and this section expires
September 1, 2025.
SECTION 5. Notwithstanding the requirements of Section
508.157(b)(2), Government Code, as amended by this Act, until
January 1, 2025, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice may
continue to make payments for the cost of temporary post-release
housing under the requirements of Section 508.157(b), Government
Code, that existed immediately before the effective date of this
Act, and those requirements are continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 6. Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall implement the post-release
housing planning procedure required by Section 508.158, Government
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 7. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall
submit the first report required by Section 508.158(d), Government
Code, as added by this Act, not later than February 1, 2025.
SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.