By Haggerty                                            H.B. No. 774
         77R1746 GWK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to an analysis of services that are provided or could be
 1-3     provided by community supervision and corrections departments.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Chapter 413, Government Code, is amended by adding
 1-6     Section 413.024 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 413.024.  ANALYSIS OF IMPROVEMENT IN SERVICES OF
 1-8     COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENTS. (a)  The policy
 1-9     council shall analyze the costs and benefits of the following
1-10     possibilities for improving services provided by community
1-11     supervision and corrections departments:
1-12                 (1)  the continuation of existing funding levels and
1-13     patterns of resource allocation;
1-14                 (2)  an across the board increase in funding for
1-15     departments, with a requirement that the increased funding be used
1-16     to reduce caseloads and improve the quality of basic supervision;
1-17     and
1-18                 (3)  the targeting of increased funding and resources
1-19     to departments that implement strategies for:
1-20                       (A)  reducing office visits by persons under the
1-21     supervision of a department and increasing home visits performed by
1-22     the department;
1-23                       (B)  closer monitoring of high-risk offenders;
1-24                       (C)  forming partnerships between departments,
 2-1     law enforcement agencies, and community organizations; and
 2-2                       (D)  strengthening residential programs.
 2-3           (b)  The policy council shall analyze the feasibility of
 2-4     using money in the compensation to victims of crime fund and the
 2-5     compensation to victims of crime auxiliary fund to improve
 2-6     victim-related services and assistance provided by community
 2-7     supervision and corrections departments.
 2-8           (c)  The policy council shall prepare a report for the
 2-9     analysis conducted under Subsection (a)  and a report for the
2-10     analysis conducted under Subsection (b).  The policy council shall
2-11     submit the reports to the legislature not later than January 1,
2-12     2003.
2-13           (d)  This section expires January 2, 2003.
2-14           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-15     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-16     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-17     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-18     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.