| TO: | Honorable Jerry Madden, Chair, House Committee on Corrections |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3637 by Turner (Relating to the administration of Project RIO (Reintegration of Offenders).), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Labor Code and the Government Code relating to the transfer of the administration of Project RIO (Reintegration of Offenders) from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
The bill would revise the Government Code and require TDCJ, TWC and the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) to adopt a memorandum of understanding that establishes the respective reponsibilities of each agency and of the divisions within TDCJ. The memorundum of understanding between TDCJ and TWC requires establishing the roles of TDCJ's correctional institutions, community justice assistance and the parole divisions in the reintegration of offenders into the labor force. The memorandum of understanding between TYC and TDCJ also requires establishing the roles of the institutional and community services division of the TYC and the role of TDCJ.
The bill also requires TDCJ to do the following: 1) coordinate the development of the memoranda of understanding; 2) designate the director of Project RIO; 3) provide information on state services for ex-offenders and employers; 4) adopt a memorandum of understanding that establishes the respective responsibilities of TDCJ and other agencies (State Health Services, Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Veteran's Commission, and Health and Human Services) in providing information on state services for ex-offenders and employers; and 5) establish a data interface with the Texas Youth Commission to assist persons formerly sentenced to the correctional institutions division or committed to TYC in the reintegration into the labor force.
The bill repeals Section 501.097, Government Code, which requires a memorandum of understanding between TDCJ and TWC for reintegration services and requires all unexpended appropriations for the administration of Project RIO made to TWC be transferred to TDCJ after transfer of the administration of Project RIO is complete.
Based on the analysis of the TDCJ and the TWC, it is assumed that any duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
This bill would take effect September 1, 2007.
| Source Agencies: | 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 694 Youth Commission, 696 Department of Criminal Justice
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, ES, JI, SDO, EM
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