Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1848 by West (Relating to the provision of reentry, reintegration, and other services to a wrongfully imprisoned person who is discharged from a correctional facility.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code by requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to provide reentry and reintegration services for a wrongfully imprisoned person. The bill would include a person who has served wholly or partly a sentence operated by or under contract with TDCJ and has received a pardon for innocence for the crime for which the person was sentenced or otherwise been granted relief because of being innocent of the crime. Also, the bill would require TDCJ to develop a reentry and reintegration plan that would include life-skills, job, and vocational training for a wrongfully imprisoned person following discharge, for as long as the services are beneficial. The bill would require TDCJ to provide the following to the wrongfully imprisoned person: a state identification card and financial assistance to aid in covering living expenses following discharge, not to exceed $10,000. The bill would provide that the amount of the financial assistance shall be deducted from compensation provided or damages awarded the person under the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. The bill would allow TDCJ to contract with a private vendor or other entity to implement the comprehensive reentry and reintegration services.
The bill would also require TDCJ to develop a plan for the wrongfully imprisoned person for meeting the long-term treatment and rehabilitative needs, including medical care and mental health services at no cost for the remainder of the person’s lifetime. The bill would require the plan to include at no cost, dental services for two years following the person’s discharge date and mental health and other health counseling services for three years following the person’s discharge date. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has determined that the bill would currently apply to a small number of persons and costs associated with implementing the bill would not be significant.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.