BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 719

By: White

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Transfer facilities were constructed in the early 1990s in order to alleviate overcrowding in county jails and house incoming justice-involved people for up to two years. It has been noted that these restrictions preclude most inter-unit transfers to the facility and require moving a justice-involved individual from the transfer facility upon reaching the two-year limit. The flexibility to house justice‑involved individuals in appropriate settings has always been necessary; however, it has become even more important when implementing strategies related to COVID-19, heat mitigation, staffing shortages, and natural disasters.

It has been noted that statutory references to "transfer facilities" impede the ability of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to efficiently and properly assign justice-involved individuals. H.B. 719 seeks to solve the problem by removing statutory references to "transfer facilities" and repealing related provisions.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 719 repeals Government Code provisions relating to Texas Department of Criminal Justice transfer facilities and amends that code to eliminate statutory references to those facilities.

H.B. 719 repeals the following provisions of the Government Code:

· Subchapter G, Chapter 499;

· Section 507.006(b); and

· Section 511.017(a)(3).

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.