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.