81R8850 HLT-F

By: Turner of Harris H.B. No. 2162

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Reentry Policy Task Force to review corrections policies, programs, and procedures for inmates released into the community.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 501, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter G to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER G. REENTRY POLICY TASK FORCE

Sec. 501.191. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force" means the Reentry Policy Task Force.

Sec. 501.192. TASK FORCE; COMPOSITION. (a) The Reentry Policy Task Force is created to advise the department, the Texas Youth Commission, and the Department of State Health Services on policies, programs, and procedures for inmates released into the community.

(b) The task force is composed of 23 members consisting of:

(1) the executive director of the department or the executive director's designee;

(2) the executive commissioner of the Texas Youth Commission or the executive commissioner's designee;

(3) the commissioner of the Department of State Health Services or the commissioner's designee;

(4) the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission or the executive commissioner's designee;

(5) the attorney general or the attorney general's designee;

(6) the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals or the presiding judge's designee;

(7) the executive director of the Texas District and County Attorneys Association or the executive director's designee;

(8) the executive director of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association or the executive director's designee;

(9) three members appointed by the governor, consisting of:

(A) one law enforcement officer;

(B) one corrections official; and

(C) one person who has been a victim of crime;

(10) six members appointed by the lieutenant governor, consisting of:

(A) three members of the senate;

(B) one person who specializes in issues related to halfway houses and the reintegration of inmates;

(C) one representative of a nonprofit entity involved with the reintegration of inmates; and

(D) one district attorney or the district attorney's designee; and

(11) six members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, consisting of:

(A) three members of the house of representatives;

(B) one representative of a faith-based organization involved with the reintegration of inmates;

(C) one person who was convicted of a criminal offense in this state; and

(D) one mental health and substance abuse official.

Sec. 501.193. DUTIES; ANNUAL REPORT. (a) The task force shall:

(1) review corrections policies, programs, and procedures to ensure that they have as their primary purpose public safety;

(2) establish goals for reducing the rate of recidivism among former inmates;

(3) make recommendations concerning the coordination of reentry programs and services for former inmates to help those inmates obtain jobs, housing, substance abuse treatment, medical care, and mental health services following their release;

(4) identify gaps and overlapping efforts in reentry programs and services for former inmates and recommend changes to address those issues;

(5) identify methods to improve the coordination of reentry programs and services, including:

(A) cross-training;

(B) the use of management information systems accessible to partner agencies; and

(C) the use of screening procedures to assess the specific needs of former inmates and refer those inmates to entities that provide appropriate services;

(6) identify practices that have proven to be effective in reentry support, treatment, and intervention;

(7) communicate regularly with local agencies and faith-based and community organizations that provide appropriate programs and services;

(8) encourage the increased use of family-based treatment centers and parenting skills programs for former inmates and, as feasible, for inmates who are within one year of being released;

(9) review policies to ensure that correctional facilities recruit and welcome volunteers;

(10) evaluate and make recommendations concerning the extent to which persons who supervise inmates in a correctional facility are in contact with persons and entities who will supervise those inmates following their release; and

(11) include victims in the reentry process and facilitate dialogue between former inmates and victims who are willing to communicate with those inmates.

(b) Not later than September 1 of each calendar year, the task force shall deliver a report of the task force's findings and recommendations to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the standing committees of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over criminal justice matters, the executive director of the department, the executive commissioner of the Texas Youth Commission, and the commissioner of the Department of State Health Services.

Sec. 501.194. TENURE OF MEMBERS. (a) An appointed member of the task force serves at the pleasure of the appointing officer.

(b) A member who serves on the task force by virtue of the member's office serves on the task force so long as the member holds that office.

Sec. 501.195. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the task force serves without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official task force duties out of funds appropriated to the department for that purpose.

Sec. 501.196. OFFICERS. (a) The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate a member of the task force to serve as chairperson of the task force. The lieutenant governor shall designate a member to serve as vice-chairperson of the task force. The task force shall elect any other officers from among its members.

(b) Each officer of the task force serves for a term of one year.

(c) The task force shall fill a vacancy in a task force office for the unexpired term.

Sec. 501.197. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at the call of the chairperson.

Sec. 501.198. GRANTS AND DONATIONS. The task force may accept grants and donations from public and private entities.

Sec. 501.199. SUNSET PROVISION. The task force is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the task force is abolished and this subchapter expires September 1, 2021.

SECTION 2. (a) Not later than the 60th day after the effective date of this Act, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall make the appointments required by Section 501.192, Government Code, as added by this Act.

(b) The chairperson of the Reentry Policy Task Force shall convene the first meeting of the task force under Section 501.197, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 1, 2009.

(c) The Reentry Policy Task Force shall submit the first report required by Section 501.193, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2011.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.