By Allen                                              H.B. No. 1256
         76R2946 DAK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the operation of the Texas Youth Commission industries
 1-3     program.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 61.122, Human Resources Code, is amended
 1-6     by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (d) to
 1-7     read as follows:
 1-8           (b)  Members serve staggered three-year terms, with the terms
 1-9     of three members expiring February 1 of each [odd numbered] year.
1-10           (c)  The advisory committee is composed of:
1-11                 (1)  one representative of organized labor;
1-12                 (2)  one representative of employers;
1-13                 (3)  one representative of groups advocating the rights
1-14     of victims of criminal offenses;
1-15                 (4)  one representative of groups advocating the rights
1-16     of children committed to the commission;
1-17                 (5)  one person experienced in the field of vocational
1-18     rehabilitation;
1-19                 (6)  one representative [In making appointments under
1-20     this section, the commission shall endeavor to include
1-21     representatives] of  industries appropriate for hiring children
1-22     committed to the commission; and
1-23                 (7)  three public members.
1-24           (d)  The following individuals shall serve as ex officio
 2-1     members of the advisory committee:
 2-2                 (1)  a member of the house of representatives
 2-3     designated by the speaker of the house;
 2-4                 (2)  a member of the senate designated by the
 2-5     lieutenant governor;
 2-6                 (3)  the executive director of the Texas Department of
 2-7     Criminal Justice or the designee of the executive director;
 2-8                 (4)  the executive director of the Texas Workforce
 2-9     Commission or the designee of the executive director; and
2-10                 (5)  the executive director of the commission or the
2-11     designee of the executive director.
2-12           SECTION 2.  Subchapter I, Chapter 61, Human Resources Code,
2-13     is amended by adding Section 61.1221 to read as follows:
2-14           Sec. 61.1221.  PURPOSE AND DUTIES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a)
2-15     The purpose of the commission industries advisory committee is to:
2-16                 (1)  promote the rehabilitation of youth offenders by
2-17     helping them become successful members of society;
2-18                 (2)  enhance the transition of youth offenders back
2-19     into society and decrease the chance of recidivism by helping to
2-20     give youth offenders marketable skills, employment experience, and
2-21     an increased sense of confidence; and
2-22                 (3)  support the commission's prison industry
2-23     enhancement program by providing advice on the research and
2-24     development of employment programs within the commission's
2-25     facilities.
2-26           (b)  The advisory committee shall:
2-27                 (1)  assist in the identification of prospective
 3-1     private sector employers who might participate in the commission's
 3-2     prison industries program and who are appropriate for hiring youth
 3-3     committed to the commission;
 3-4                 (2)  advise and assist in the development of a
 3-5     commission prison industries marketing plan;
 3-6                 (3)  provide input on any changes relating to state or
 3-7     federal rules or regulations and practices affecting the
 3-8     commission's prison industries program and its youth; and
 3-9                 (4)  advise the commission on career and technology
3-10     education programs.
3-11           SECTION 3.  Section 61.123, Human Resources Code, is amended
3-12     to read as follows:
3-13           Sec. 61.123.  PAY AND DISTRIBUTION OF PAY.  The commission
3-14     shall apportion wages earned by a child working under the
3-15     industries program in amounts determined at the discretion of the
3-16     commission, in the following priority:
3-17                 (1)  a person to whom the child has been ordered by a
3-18     court or to whom the child has agreed to pay restitution;
3-19                 (2)  a person to whom the child has been ordered by a
3-20     court to pay child support;
3-21                 (3)  the compensation to victims of crime fund or the
3-22     compensation to victims of crime auxiliary fund;  [and]
3-23                 (4)  reimbursement to the commission of the child's
3-24     room and board expenses while residing at a facility of the
3-25     commission; and
3-26                 (5)  the child's student account.
3-27           SECTION 4.  Section 171.681(2), Tax Code, is amended to read
 4-1     as follows:
 4-2                 (2)  "Eligible child" means a person who:
 4-3                       (A)  is committed to the commission under Title
 4-4     3, Family Code[, other than a commitment under a determinate
 4-5     sentence under Section 54.04(d)(3), 54.04(m), or 54.05(f), Family
 4-6     Code]; and
 4-7                       (B)  resides at a facility of the commission.
 4-8           SECTION 5.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 4-9           (b)  The changes to the appointment of members to the Texas
4-10     Youth Commission industries advisory committee made by Section
4-11     61.122(c), Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act, do not
4-12     require the removal of any present members of the committee and
4-13     apply only to appointments on the expiration of the terms of the
4-14     current members or the creation of a vacancy by other means.
4-15           (c)  The appointment of ex officio members to the Texas Youth
4-16     Commission industries advisory committee as provided by Section
4-17     61.122(d), Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, is effective
4-18     on the effective date of this Act.
4-19           SECTION 6.  The importance of this legislation and the
4-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.