HBA-EVB S.B. 1577 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1577 By: West Corrections 4/26/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, prison gang membership is increasing, and the number of inmates on parole or mandatory supervision who are members of prison gangs will likely continue to increase. Closer monitoring by the pardons and paroles division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) of parolees who are known members of prison gangs, criminal street gangs, or security threat groups, may enable TDCJ to better evaluate indicators of potential criminal activity. S.B. 1577 establishes specialized gang awareness training for parole officers who supervise gang members released from TDCJ on parole or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 508, Government Code, by adding Section 508.1141, as follows: Sec. 508.1141. SPECIALIZED TRAINING: GANG MEMBERS. Requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to develop and provide specialized training for parole officers supervising releasees previously identified by TDCJ as being members of prison gangs, criminal street gangs, or security threat groups. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.