Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2884 by Dutton (Relating to juvenile delinquency; providing penalties.), As Engrossed
The bill would amend the Human Resources Code by limiting the maximum capacity of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) to 3,000 youth, including youth housed in TYC operated facilities, halfway houses, and contract programs, unless the governor provides approval to exceed the maximum capacity. TYC would be required to confine no more than 100 youth in each community-based facility, would be required to operate community-based facilities in counties with a population of at least 600,000, and could operate a community-based facility in any other county.
It is assumed that in order to reach the maximum population of 3,000 as required by the bill, TYC would shift youths from residential facilities to parole supervision.
Assuming that other policies not addressed in this bill remain constant, the probable impact of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five years following passage, in terms of daily demand upon juvenile correctional populations, is estimated as follows: