Amend CSHB 1 (house committee printing) in Article V of the bill, following the appropriations to the Department of Criminal Justice, by adding the following appropriately numbered rider:

____. Study of Halfway Houses. (a) Out of the funds appropriated above, the Department of Criminal Justice shall conduct a study regarding halfway houses and the extent to which they operate in a discriminatory manner. The study must include:

(1)  the number of halfway houses in this state;

(2)  the location of each halfway house;

(3)  a comparison between the number of halfway houses located in urban areas and rural areas; and

(4)  the racial makeup of the population of each halfway house.

(b)  Not later than December 31, 2016, the department shall report the results of the study to:

(1)  the governor;

(2)  the lieutenant governor;

(3)  the speaker of the house of representatives;

(4)  the Legislative Budget Board; and

(5)  each standing committee of the senate and house of representatives having primary jurisdiction over matters relating to corrections.