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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the recidivism rate of defendants who |
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complete a veterans treatment court program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 124, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 124.008 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 124.008. RECIDIVISM STUDY. (a) In this section, |
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"council" means the Texas Judicial Council. |
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(b) The council, in collaboration with the Texas Veterans |
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Commission, shall conduct a study to evaluate the recidivism rate |
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of defendants who successfully completed a veterans treatment court |
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program in the preceding 10 years. The report must include: |
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(1) the recidivism rate, calculated by determining |
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from available information the percentage of defendants who have, |
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since completing the program: |
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(A) been arrested for an offense alleged to have |
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been committed after the defendant completed the program; |
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(B) been convicted of an offense committed after |
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the defendant completed the program; |
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(C) had a term of community supervision revoked |
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due to a technical violation or commission of another offense |
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committed after the defendant completed the program; and |
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(D) had a term of parole or mandatory supervision |
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revoked due to a technical violation or commission of another |
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offense committed after the defendant completed the program; |
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(2) any apparent patterns in the recidivism rate for |
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defendants based on the available information; |
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(3) a summary of any information the council |
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determines is correlated with or otherwise relevant to the |
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recidivism rate for defendants; and |
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(4) recommendations for: |
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(A) further action to improve outcomes for |
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defendants in the program; and |
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(B) program goals to reduce the recidivism rate |
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of defendants. |
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(c) The council may collaborate with any state or federal |
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agency, county, or court as necessary to obtain the information |
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described by Subsection (b). |
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(d) Not later than January 1, 2025, the council shall |
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prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a written |
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report containing the results of the study and any recommendations |
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for legislative or other action. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |