SRC-JBJ H.B. 3504 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3504
77R10460 GWK-DBy: Allen (Armbrister)
Criminal Justice
5/10/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current Texas law, an offender who is released on parole or mandatory
supervision and who violates the terms of the release or commits another
offense is issued a pre-revocation warrant, known as a blue warrant.
During the 60 days allowed for the processing of a blue warrant, offenders
are detained in county jails.  In the past, this has contributed to
overcrowding in county jails that costs the local taxpayers even though the
parolee is under state supervision. H.B. 3504 provides that a violator may
remain under custodial supervision for a period between 60 and 180 days
only if the county commissioners court and the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice have entered into a contract providing for the housing of such
violators.  

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 508.283, Government Code, by adding Subsection
(d), to authorize the Board of Pardons and Paroles (board), if a person's
parole or mandatory supervision is modified after it is established that
the person violated conditions of release, to require the releasee to
remain under custodial supervision in a county jail for a period of not
less than 60 days or more than 180 days. Provides that a sheriff is
required to accept an inmate sanctioned under this subsection only if the
commissioners court of the county in which the sheriff serves and the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice have entered into a contract providing for
the housing of persons sanctioned under this subsection. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.