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House Bill 3226 |
House Author: Madden et al. |
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Effective: 6-19-09 |
Senate Sponsor: Seliger |
House Bill 3226 amends the Government Code to authorize the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to issue to an inmate who is eligible for release on parole or to mandatory supervision or to a releasee payment for the cost of temporary post-release housing that meets any conditions or requirements imposed by a parole panel and is located in the county of legal residence of the inmate or releasee. The bill prescribes a limit on the amount of payment, requires TDCJ to issue the payment out of certain funds appropriated by the legislature to TDCJ, and requires the executive director of TDCJ to implement the issuance of such payment and ensure that the food, hygiene, and clothing needs of the inmate or releasee are adequately met during the payment period. The bill requires TDCJ to submit a report to the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee that includes the total number of inmates and releasees to whom payment is issued, the total dollar amount of payments issued, and the county of release and the county of legal residence of each inmate or releasee receiving payment. The bill modifies the conditions that are required to be met before a parole panel is authorized to release an inmate on parole to specify that the condition that arrangements have been made for the inmate's employment or for the inmate's maintenance and care may include the issuance of payment for the cost of temporary post-release housing. The bill applies only to an inmate released on parole on or after January 1, 2010.