BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 614 By: Uher 04-04-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Boot camp programs offer short term military-style basic training for young offenders convicted of nonviolent offenses. An intermediate sanction between probation and prison, boot camps provide judges the opportunity to determine sentences suitable to the particular offender. Currently a court may recommend a person for placement in the state boot camp program only if the person is otherwise eligible for community supervision, the person is 17 years or older, but younger than 26 years and is physically and mentally capable of participating in a program that requires strenuous physical activity, and the person is not convicted of an offense punishable as a state jail felony. PURPOSE H.B. 614 lowers the eligibility age for placement in the state boot camp program from 17 years to 15 years old. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 8(a), Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure by lowering the eligibility age for placement in the state boot camp program from 17 to 15. SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a defendant sentenced for an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION H.B. 614 was considered by the Committee on Corrections in a public hearing on April 4, 1995. The Chair recognized Representative Uher to explain the bill. The following persons testified neutrally on the bill: Carl Reynolds, representing the Texas Board of Criminal Justice; and James A. Collins, representing the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The bill was reported favorably, without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, and 0 absent.