BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 384
By: Montford (Duncan)
05-04-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) has been experiencing overcrowding
problems in its juvenile institutions, so the legislature created
the community assistance program and the Texas Juvenile Probation
Commission to offset these problems.  The emphasis of these efforts
was to do more juvenile rehabilitation at the local, rather than
the state, level.  Currently, there are 12 local facilities serving
141 counties, and all of these programs have exceeded goals set by
the legislature for reducing commitments to TYC facilities.  Some
state funding is available to local programs, but it is inadequate
to cover all of the beds in local programs.

PURPOSE

S.B. 384 requires the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission to
provide state aid to counties that provide residential care
facilities for children that have engaged in delinquent behavior.

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 Chapter 141E, Human Resources Code, by adding
Section 141.086, as follows:

     Sec.  141.086.  PROVISION OF SECURE RESIDENTIAL CARE
     FACILITIES.  (a) Requires the Texas Juvenile Probation
     Commission (commission) to provide state aid to counties that
     provide residential care facilities for children who have
     engaged in delinquent conduct and placed on probation in the
     facilities by a juvenile court as an alternative to the
     facilities of the Texas Youth Commission.
     
     (b) Requires the commission to provide aid each fiscal year
       from funds appropriated to the commission. 
       
       (c) Requires the commission to adopt standards for the
       provision of and monitor the effectiveness of state aid.  
       
       (d) Provides that state aid provided by the commission under
       this section is in addition to any other state aid provided
       by the commission.
       
       (e) Requires a portion of the state aid appropriated to the
       commission to be used to establish juvenile boot camps in
       five regions of the state as designated by the commission.
       
       (f) Defines "secure residential care facility."
       
     SECTION 2.     Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3.     Emergency clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

S.B. 384 was considered in a public hearing on May 3, 1995.

The following person testified in favor of the bill:
      Lloyd Watts, representing himself.

The Chair left the bill pending.

In a formal meeting on May 4, 1995, the bill was reported favorably
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed by a record
vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 0 absent.