By Turner of Harris                             H.B. No. 2471

      75R7900 JSA-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to establishing a center for the study and prevention of

 1-3     juvenile crime and delinquency at Prairie View A&M University.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 87, Education Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Section 87.105 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 87.105.  CENTER FOR THE STUDY AND PREVENTION OF JUVENILE

 1-8     CRIME AND DELINQUENCY.  (a)  The Center for the Study and

 1-9     Prevention of Juvenile Crime and Delinquency is established at

1-10     Prairie View A&M University.

1-11           (b)  The organization, control, and management of the center

1-12     is vested in the board of regents of The Texas A&M University

1-13     System.

1-14           (c)  The board of regents shall approve the employment of

1-15     personnel by and the operating budget of the center.  An employee

1-16     of the center is an employee of Prairie View A&M University.

1-17           (d)  The center may:

1-18                 (1)  conduct, coordinate, collect, and evaluate

1-19     research in all areas relating to juvenile crime and delinquency;

1-20                 (2)  provide a setting for educational programs

1-21     relating to juvenile crime and delinquency, including degree

1-22     programs at Prairie View A&M University and other educational

1-23     programs such as continuing education and in-service training for

1-24     criminal justice and social service professionals;

 2-1                 (3)  serve as a state and national resource for

 2-2     information on juvenile crime and delinquency; and

 2-3                 (4)  in connection with its research and educational

 2-4     programs:

 2-5                       (A)  develop programs, policies, and strategies

 2-6     to address juvenile crime and delinquency and related social

 2-7     problems; and

 2-8                       (B)  create partnerships, collaborative efforts,

 2-9     or outreach, public service, or technical assistance programs to

2-10     assist communities, governmental agencies, or private entities to

2-11     implement programs, policies, and strategies that address juvenile

2-12     crime and delinquency and related social problems.

2-13           (e)  The center may enter into a cooperative agreement or

2-14     contract with a public or private entity to perform the duties of

2-15     the center.

2-16           (f)  The board of regents may accept gifts and grants from a

2-17     public or private source for the benefit of the center.

2-18           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-19           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.