| TO: | Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB4451 by McReynolds (Relating to continuity of care services for youth with mental illness or mental retardation who are discharged or paroled from the Texas Youth Commission.), As Engrossed |
The bill would amend the Human Resources and Health and Safety Codes as they relate to the continuity of care services for youth with mental illness or mental retardation who are paroled or discharged from the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). Under the provisions of this bill, youth with mental illness or mental retardation discharged from TYC would be eligible to receive continuity of care services from the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments (TCOOMMI). The bill would also allow youth who do not meet criteria for adult services as defined by Section 533.0352, Health and Safety Code, to continue to receive continuity of care services until the youth completes parole. The bill would also allow youth with mental illness discharged from TYC under Section 61.077, Human Resources Code, to receive continuity of care services for a minimum of 90 days after discharge and for as long as necessary until the youth can demonstrate sufficient stability to successfully transition to services provided by a local mental health and mental retardation center.
TYC and the Department of Aging and Disability estimate no significant fiscal impact. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) reports it cannot determine the fiscal impact from the increased use of services for juvenile offenders provided by TCOOMMI. It is assumed that the fiscal impact to TDCJ would not be significant.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2009 unless it receives the votes necessary to become effective immediately.
| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | JOB, ESi, GG, AI
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