By Garcia                                             H.B. No. 2015
         77R4682 GWK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Criminal
 1-3     Justice to build or contract for the construction of a secure
 1-4     correctional facility.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 496, Government Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 496.008 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 496.008.  CONSTRUCTION MORATORIUM.  (a)  The department,
 1-9     during the period beginning September 1, 2001, and ending August
1-10     31, 2005, may not begin building or enter into a contract for the
1-11     construction of a secure correctional facility.
1-12           (b)  This section expires September 1, 2005.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Section 413.013, Government Code, is amended by
1-14     adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-15           (c)(1)  For the 78th and 79th regular sessions of the
1-16     legislature, the policy council shall include with the plan
1-17     required to be submitted to the legislature by this section a
1-18     special report.  The special report must include a study that:
1-19                       (A)  focuses primarily on projected capacity and
1-20     population and the success of programs and services offered by the
1-21     Texas Department of Criminal Justice  with the primary purpose of
1-22     rehabilitating inmates; and
1-23                       (B)  is more detailed than the projections and
1-24     reviews provided by Sections 413.015 and 413.022, respectively.
 2-1                 (2)  In addition to the study required by Subdivision
 2-2     (1), the special report must contain the recommendations of the
 2-3     policy council as to those rehabilitation programs not currently
 2-4     used in this state that show, in the opinion of the council, the
 2-5     most promise for  both reducing recidivism and protecting public
 2-6     safety.
 2-7                 (3)  This subsection expires September 1, 2005.
 2-8           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-9     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-10     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-11     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-12     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.