By Ramsay H.C.R. No. 254
77R13660 RVH-D
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The traditional response to instances of criminal
1-2 behavior has been to subject the offender to a variety of
1-3 sanctions, including adjudication, probation, detention, and
1-4 incarceration; while these approaches may also serve as a deterrent
1-5 to future crime, they generally respond to criminal behavior after
1-6 the fact and do little to break the vicious cycle of crime; and
1-7 WHEREAS, The state's growing prison population, including an
1-8 increasing number of new commitments to Texas Youth Commission
1-9 facilities, and the rising costs associated with serving those
1-10 populations under state supervision, have heightened awareness of
1-11 the need to explore alternative, less costly, but effective
1-12 approaches, such as prevention and early intervention services that
1-13 aim to divert certain youth away from criminal activity; and
1-14 WHEREAS, In its interim report to the 77th Legislature, the
1-15 House Committee on County Affairs illustrated the value of such an
1-16 approach in its finding that a majority of the youth who have
1-17 received early intervention services through the Department of
1-18 Protective and Regulatory Services have experienced positive
1-19 outcomes such as increases in TAAS test scores; and
1-20 WHEREAS, The cost of failing to provide appropriate
1-21 interventions may be inferred from research by the National
1-22 Institute of Justice indicating that abused and neglected children
1-23 are 53 percent more likely to be arrested as juveniles and 38
1-24 percent more likely to be arrested as adults when compared to
2-1 children who have not been abused or neglected; and
2-2 WHEREAS, The committee mindfully acknowledges the interim
2-3 testimony given by witnesses that expressed frustration with the
2-4 lack of coordination between state and local government entities
2-5 and community-based service organizations in delivering prevention
2-6 and early intervention services, with 17 state agencies providing
2-7 funding for at least 34 at-risk programs; and
2-8 WHEREAS, The legislature has duly recognized the important
2-9 role that prevention and early intervention services play in
2-10 targeting at-risk behaviors and other factors that lead to child
2-11 abuse, drug use, delinquency, running away, truancy, and dropping
2-12 out of school; and
2-13 WHEREAS, In 1999, legislation was enacted that created the
2-14 prevention and early intervention services division within the
2-15 department to consolidate the programs and services that target
2-16 children and their families who are susceptible to at-risk
2-17 behaviors; and
2-18 WHEREAS, The consolidation of prevention and early
2-19 intervention services within the jurisdiction of a single state
2-20 agency will help deliver a unified system of services that local
2-21 entities can use to meet the specific, individual needs of an
2-22 at-risk child and, at the same time, maximize federal, state, and
2-23 local resources; and
2-24 WHEREAS, In keeping with its interim charge to study the
2-25 coordination of services for at-risk youth at the local level, the
2-26 House Committee on County Affairs recommends in its report to the
2-27 77th Legislature that additional efforts be made in nonurban areas
3-1 to build a comprehensive and cohesive system for delivering
3-2 prevention and early intervention services to youth at risk of
3-3 future criminality; now, therefore, be it
3-4 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-5 hereby direct the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services,
3-6 in conjunction with the United Ways of Texas, to coordinate all
3-7 appropriate state agency resources with those of interested
3-8 community groups in Hunt, Gray, Duval, Wichita, Titus, Williamson,
3-9 and Blanco counties, to assess the needs of those communities and
3-10 to ensure a continuum of prevention and early intervention services
3-11 to youth who are at risk of entering the criminal justice system;
3-12 and, be it further
3-13 RESOLVED, That in developing plans to provide such services
3-14 in nonurban areas, the department seek partnerships with the Texas
3-15 Municipal League, the Texas Association of Counties, Texas A&M
3-16 Agriculture Extension offices, the Texas Youth Commission, the
3-17 Councils of Governments in those areas, the criminal justice
3-18 division and the Texas Commission on Volunteerism and Community
3-19 Service in the Office of the Governor, the Justices of the Peace
3-20 and Constables Association, and faith-based groups in the local
3-21 communities as well as local youth; and, be it further
3-22 RESOLVED, That the department submit a full report of its
3-23 findings and recommendations to the Office of the Governor, and to
3-24 the 78th Texas Legislature before it convenes in January 2003; and,
3-25 be it further
3-26 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
3-27 copy of this resolution to the executive director of the Department
4-1 of Protective and Regulatory Services and to the chair of the Board
4-2 of Protective and Regulatory Services.