SRC-MWN H.B. 1583 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1583 77R5792 GWK-DBy: Gallego (Armbrister) Criminal Justice 5/8/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The pardons and parole division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (division) is responsible for the investigation and supervision of all persons released on parole or to mandatory supervision. Under current law, the director of the department must establish qualifications for the division's parole officers and supervisors that are the same as those established for community supervision and corrections department officers. The standards, including the requirement that an officer have a bachelor's degree, do not always meet the functional needs of the division. H.B.1583 gives the division director more discretion in the hiring of parole officers and supervisors. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 508.113(c), Government Code, to delete text requiring the qualifications for parole officers and supervisors to be the same as qualifications for community supervision and corrections department officers. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.