BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1374

                                                                                                                                             By: West

                                                                                                                                   Criminal Justice

                                                                                                                                            6/30/2009

                                                                                                                                              Enrolled

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

During the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, S.B. 103 put in motion an overhaul of the juvenile justice system with a particular focus on juvenile corrections facilities and the Texas Youth Commission (TYC).

 

The Sunset Advisory Commission recommended the creation of a community corrections pilot program that would target low-risk, juvenile felony offenders.  This recommendation is consistent with the objective that TYC commitments should be reduced and institutional confinement should be reserved for the more serious juvenile felony offenders.

 

S.B. 1374 amends current law relating to annual reports by the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission on the operations and conditions of probation services in this state.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 141.024(a), Human Resources Code, as follows:

 

(a)  Requires the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC) to report annually to the governor and the legislature on TJPC's operations and the condition of probation services in the state during the previous year.  Provides that the report:

 

(1)  is authorized to include recommendations; and

 

(2)  is required to include:

 

(A)  an evaluation of the effectiveness of the community-based programs operated under Section 54.0401 (Community-based Programs), Family Code; and

 

(B)  information comparing the cost of a child participating in a program described by Paragraph (A) with the cost of committing the child to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC).  Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2009.