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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an annual report by the reentry and integration |
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division and the parole division of the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 501.103 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.103. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Not later than December 31 |
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of each year, the department's reentry and integration division and |
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parole division shall jointly prepare and submit an annual report |
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to: |
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(1) the governor; |
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(2) the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) the speaker of the house of representatives; |
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(4) the standing committees of the house and senate |
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primarily responsible for criminal justice issues and corrections |
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issues; and |
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(5) the reentry task force. |
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(b) The report must include the following information about |
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parole during the year in which the report is submitted: |
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(1) the number of referrals of releasees for |
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employment, housing, medical care, treatment for substance abuse or |
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mental illness, education, or other basic needs; |
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(2) the outcome of each referral; |
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(3) the identified areas in which referrals are not |
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possible due to unavailable resources or providers; |
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(4) community resources available to releases |
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including but not limited to faith-based and volunteer |
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organizations; and |
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(5) parole officer training. |
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(c) The report must include the following information about |
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reentry and reintegration during the year in which the report is |
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submitted: |
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(1) the outcomes of programs and services that are |
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available to releasees based on follow-up inquiries evaluating |
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clients' progress after release; |
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(2) the common reentry barriers identified during |
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releasees' individual assessments, including in areas of |
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employment, housing, medical care, treatment for substance abuse or |
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mental illness, education, or other basic needs; |
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(3) the common reentry benefits and services that |
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reentry coordinators help releasees obtain or apply for; |
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(4) available community resources including but not |
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limited to faith-based and volunteer organizations |
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; and |
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(5) reentry coordinator training. |
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(d) The report required by Subsection (a) must be made |
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available to the public. |
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SECTION 2. The reentry and integration division and the |
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parole division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall |
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submit the initial report required by Section 501.103, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 31, 2014. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |