BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3606

By: Leach

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Inmates who learn new skills during their incarceration may have more opportunities for work on release and be less likely to recidivate. In addition to courses offered by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), training that is offered on a volunteer basis could help serve this goal. However, currently there is no explicit requirement for TDCJ to adopt a policy to provide vocational training on a volunteer basis to inmates confined in a TDCJ transfer facility. H.B. 3606 seeks to institute such a requirement.

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. 3606 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date, to adopt a policy under which a representative of a public or private entity, including a public or private institution of higher education, may provide vocational training on a voluntary basis to inmates confined in a TDCJ transfer facility.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.