By Armbrister S.C.R. No. 133
74R8771 SRD-D
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, Crime rates in Texas communities during the past
1-2 decade and the obligation of state government to protect the public
1-3 from adult and juvenile offenders have resulted in one of the
1-4 largest corrections system expansions in the history of the United
1-5 States; and
1-6 WHEREAS, The Texas adult corrections system now houses more
1-7 than 100,000 inmates in 65 secure facilities, more than 70,000
1-8 former inmates are under various levels of post-release
1-9 supervision, and approximately 400,000 probationers are under some
1-10 form of supervision in Texas communities; and
1-11 WHEREAS, The alarming escalation in the rate of juvenile
1-12 crime will soon create the need for expanded juvenile corrections
1-13 capacity; the Texas Youth Commission now has more than 2,600 youths
1-14 in its custody in 18 state-operated institutions and 75 residential
1-15 facilities, while approximately 83,000 juvenile offenders are on
1-16 probation; and
1-17 WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the state to seek new,
1-18 innovative, and cost-effective means to protect the public and
1-19 provide appropriate supervision for such a large and demonstrably
1-20 crime-prone population; now, therefore, be it
1-21 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-22 hereby request the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of
1-23 representatives to establish a joint interim committee to study the
1-24 application of advanced electronics technology to correctional
2-1 surveillance and security; and, be it further
2-2 RESOLVED, That the committee be composed of 11 members:
2-3 three members of the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor;
2-4 three members of the house of representatives appointed by the
2-5 speaker; the executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal
2-6 Justice or his designee; a representative of the office of the
2-7 attorney general; and three representatives of the private sector
2-8 appointed by the governor, such appointees to have knowledge and
2-9 experience in the field of electronic security and related
2-10 technology and to serve as advisory, nonvoting members of the
2-11 committee; and, be it further
2-12 RESOLVED, That the lieutenant governor and speaker jointly
2-13 designate two committee vice chairs from among the legislative
2-14 membership of the committee; and, be it further
2-15 RESOLVED, That the committee make a full report of its
2-16 activities and recommendations to the 75th Legislature when it
2-17 convenes; and, be it further
2-18 RESOLVED, That the committee's proceedings and operations be
2-19 governed by such general rules and policies for joint interim
2-20 committees as the 74th Legislature may adopt and that such rules
2-21 and policies supersede the provisions of this resolution to the
2-22 extent of any conflict.