H.B. 24 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 24
By: Hodge
Corrections
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current Texas law, once an inmate has had his or her good conduct
time revoked for a disciplinary offense, the inmate cannot gain the time
back through cooperation or good behavior. H.B. 24 offers wardens a
behavior-modification tool and creates an incentive for inmates by
allowing the restoration of good conduct time at the discretion of the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 


ANALYSIS

H.B. 24 authorizes the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to restore
good conduct time forfeited under Section 498.004 (a), Government Code,
rather than prohibiting the department from doing so. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.