LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 8, 2009

TO:
Honorable Jim McReynolds, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1711 by Turner, Sylvester (Relating to requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to establish a comprehensive reentry and reintegration plan for offenders released or discharged from a correctional facility.), As Introduced



Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1711, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($12,761,794) through the biennium ending August 31, 2011.



Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2010 ($6,380,897)
2011 ($6,380,897)
2012 ($6,380,897)
2013 ($6,380,897)
2014 ($6,380,897)




Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) from
General Revenue Fund
1 		Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2009
2010 ($6,380,897) 128.0
2011 ($6,380,897) 128.0
2012 ($6,380,897) 128.0
2013 ($6,380,897) 128.0
2014 ($6,380,897) 128.0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to develop a comprehensive reentry and reintegration plan for offenders released or discharged from a correctional facility.  The reentry and reintegration plan must provide for an assessment of each offender entering the facility to determine skills, needs, and a comprehensive network of transitional programs to address the offender's needs.  The bill would require staff to provide offenders with individualized case management.  The bill would allow TDCJ to contract with a private vendor or other entity to implement certain services.

The bill would specify that TDCJ adopt and implement policies that encourage family unity while an offender is confined, as well as post-release or post-discharge participation in the offender’s transition back to the community.  The agency shall also take into consideration the best interest of the offender’s family when determining which correctional facility to house the offender.  In addition, TDCJ must conduct and coordinate research that examines the impact of an offender’s confinement on the well-being of the offender’s child.


Methodology

It is assumed that the bill is requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to develop a reentry and reintegration plan, which requires individualized case management, and not the expansion of treatment programs. The Department of Criminal Justice has estimated the cost of implementing the provisions in the bill to be approximately $6,380,897 annually (Salaries for 128 additional FTEs $33,211 (B07), Benefits 28.57% is $1,214,513, and Operating expenses $915,376).

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
696 Department of Criminal Justice
LBB Staff:
JOB, ESi, GG, SDO