SRC-JEC H.B. 2818 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2818
77R9250 TBy: Counts (Shapleigh)
Intergovernmental Relations
5/9/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

In 1989, the legislature passed maximum inmate population standards for
facilities which municipalities have contracted out to a county or private
entity to run. Currently, such a facility must be designed, constructed,
operated, and maintained to hold not more than an average daily population
of 500 inmates. Privately operated prison facilities are much larger now
than when this population requirement was established. The prison
population has also increased. H.B. 2818 increases the maximum allowable
average daily inmate population for a privately operated prison facility
from 500 to 2,000.  

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 Chapter 361.065, Local Government Code, to require a
facility authorized by this subchapter to be designed, constructed,
operated, and maintained to hold not more than an average daily population
of 2,000, rather than 500, inmates.  Deletes the provision that the
population requirement does not apply to a facility under construction or
completed before August 3, 1987. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.