BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 860 89R8224 BCH-D By: Flores Criminal Justice 3/21/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT The Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee (CJLOC) was created on June 15, 2007, by the 80th Legislature with the passage of S.B. 909. In Chapter 328 of the Texas Government Code, the committee is established along with other governing rules. This bill, S.B. 860, abolishes the oversight committee since there has been no need for the committee in almost two decades. S.B. 860 will remove other traces of the committee in Sections 493.027(b) and 508.114 of the Government Code. Chapter 493 contains management of employment rules for the director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Section 493.027(b) states that the director must submit a report to the oversight committee. Since the bill will abolish the committee, there is no longer a need for this language within the section. Chapter 508 of the Government Code consists of management and rules for the Board of Pardons and Parole. Section 508.1445(a) contains the rule for the board to submit a report to the legislature and lists the CJLOC as one of the required recipients. S.B. 860 will remove the CJLOC from the list. The Senate and House have standing committees on Criminal Justice, Corrections, and Jurisprudence. These committees have jurisdiction for all criminal justice-related agencies. As proposed, S.B. 860 amends current law relating to abolishing the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Repealer: Chapter 328 (Criminal Justice Legislative Committee), Government Code. SECTION 2. Amends Section 493.027(b), Government Code, to require the director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) annually to submit a report to each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over TDCJ, rather than to the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee (committee), on the outcome of any meetings held under Section 493.027 (Management-Employee Meetings). SECTION 3. Amends Section 508.1445(a), Government Code, to delete existing text requiring the Board of Pardons and Paroles annually to submit a report to the committee. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 860
89R8224 BCH-D By: Flores
Criminal Justice
3/21/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 860
89R8224 BCH-D
By: Flores
Criminal Justice
3/21/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee (CJLOC) was created on June 15, 2007, by the 80th Legislature with the passage of S.B. 909. In Chapter 328 of the Texas Government Code, the committee is established along with other governing rules. This bill, S.B. 860, abolishes the oversight committee since there has been no need for the committee in almost two decades.
S.B. 860 will remove other traces of the committee in Sections 493.027(b) and 508.114 of the Government Code. Chapter 493 contains management of employment rules for the director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Section 493.027(b) states that the director must submit a report to the oversight committee. Since the bill will abolish the committee, there is no longer a need for this language within the section. Chapter 508 of the Government Code consists of management and rules for the Board of Pardons and Parole. Section 508.1445(a) contains the rule for the board to submit a report to the legislature and lists the CJLOC as one of the required recipients. S.B. 860 will remove the CJLOC from the list.
The Senate and House have standing committees on Criminal Justice, Corrections, and Jurisprudence. These committees have jurisdiction for all criminal justice-related agencies.
As proposed, S.B. 860 amends current law relating to abolishing the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Repealer: Chapter 328 (Criminal Justice Legislative Committee), Government Code.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 493.027(b), Government Code, to require the director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) annually to submit a report to each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over TDCJ, rather than to the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee (committee), on the outcome of any meetings held under Section 493.027 (Management-Employee Meetings).
SECTION 3. Amends Section 508.1445(a), Government Code, to delete existing text requiring the Board of Pardons and Paroles annually to submit a report to the committee.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.