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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the reentry and reintegration programs provided by the |
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Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 501.092(b) and (g), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The reentry and reintegration plan adopted under this |
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section must: |
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(1) incorporate the use of the risk and needs |
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assessment instrument adopted under Section 501.0921; |
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(2) provide for programs that address the assessed |
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needs of offenders and require the programs to begin as soon as |
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practicable after the offender is taken into the custody of the |
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department; |
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(3) provide for a comprehensive network of transition |
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programs to address the needs of offenders released or discharged |
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from a correctional facility, including following the completion of |
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a period of parole or mandatory supervision; |
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(4) identify and define the transition services that |
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are to be provided by the department and which offenders are |
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eligible for those services; |
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(5) coordinate the provision of reentry and |
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reintegration services provided to offenders through state-funded |
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and volunteer programs across divisions of the department to: |
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(A) target eligible offenders efficiently; and |
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(B) ensure maximum use of existing facilities, |
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personnel, equipment, supplies, and other resources; |
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(6) provide for collecting and maintaining data |
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regarding the number of offenders who received reentry and |
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reintegration services and the number of offenders who were |
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eligible for but did not receive those services, including |
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offenders who did not participate in those services; |
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(7) provide for evaluating the effectiveness of the |
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reentry and reintegration services provided to offenders by |
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collecting, maintaining, and reporting outcome information, |
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including recidivism data as applicable; |
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(8) identify providers of existing local programs and |
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transitional services with whom the department may contract under |
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Section 495.028 to implement the reentry and reintegration plan; |
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and |
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(9) subject to Subsection (f), provide for the sharing |
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of information between local coordinators, persons with whom the |
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department contracts under Section 495.028, and other providers of |
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services as necessary to adequately assess and address the needs of |
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each offender. |
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(g) The programs provided under Subsections (b)(2) and (3) |
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must: |
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(1) be implemented by highly skilled staff who are |
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experienced in working with inmate reentry and reintegration |
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programs; |
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(2) provide offenders with: |
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(A) individualized case management and a full |
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continuum of care; |
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(B) life-skills training, including information |
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about: |
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(i) budgeting and [,] money management; |
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(ii) [,] nutrition [,] and exercise; and |
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(iii) the development of prosocial behavior |
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and positive relationships; |
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(C) education and, if an offender has a learning |
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disability, special education; and |
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(D) spiritual guidance, if requested by the |
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offender [employment training; |
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[(E) appropriate treatment programs, including |
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substance abuse and mental health treatment programs; and |
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[(F) parenting and relationship building |
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classes]; and |
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(3) be designed to build for former offenders |
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post-release and post-discharge support from the community into |
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which an offender is released or discharged, including support from |
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agencies and organizations within that community. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |