Honorable Jim McReynolds, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3439 by England (Relating to the development and use of an inmate skills development assessment instrument by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3439, 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 skills development assessment instrument to evaluate the functional capacity of an offender. The bill would require TDCJ to consult with the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical and Mental Impairments (TCOOMMI), the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) in developing the inmate skills assessment instrument. The evaluation tool must be developed by April 1, 2010. The bill would require TDCJ to evaluate an offender no later than 90 days after being placed in custody to determine services and programs for placement, to maintain a record of results, and to reevaluate the offender no later than the 90th day before release or the discharge date. The bill would also require TDCJ to provide the results of the reevaluation and post-incarceration transition plan as soon as practicable and not later than the 30th day before the release to a reentry or reintegration office operated by the county or municipality where the offender will be released or discharged.
Methodology
The Department of Criminal Justice estimates costs associated with the bill to be $6,380,897 per year. The calculations are based on total salaries for 128 FTEs x $33,211 (B07) = $4,251,008; Benefits 28.57% = $1,214,513 and Operating Expenses $915,376.
According to DARS and DSHS, costs associated with implementing the bill could be absorbed with existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
320 Texas Workforce Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 538 Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Department of, 696 Department of Criminal Justice