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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of an advisory committee to examine the |
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state jail system within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice. |
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(2) "State jail" means a state jail felony facility |
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operated by or under contract with the department under Section |
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507.001, Government Code. |
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SECTION 2. VOLUNTARY STATE JAIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Not |
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later than December 1, 2015, the department shall convene an |
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advisory committee composed of volunteers to review the problems |
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facing the state jail system and provide recommendations to guide |
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state criminal justice policies and practices relating to state |
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jails. |
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SECTION 3. MEMBERS; PRESIDING OFFICER. (a) In recruiting |
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volunteers to serve on the advisory committee, the department shall |
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include members who are interested parties, including: |
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(1) representatives of the department; |
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(2) representatives of community supervision and |
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corrections departments established under Chapter 76, Government |
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Code; |
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(3) district or county attorneys in this state; |
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(4) criminal defense attorneys; |
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(5) individuals who have expertise in the state jail |
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system and are members of an advocacy or civil rights organization; |
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(6) individuals who have expertise in issues related |
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to criminal justice and criminal law; |
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(7) individuals who have expertise in issues related |
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to substance abuse and mental health; |
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(8) individuals who were formerly incarcerated in the |
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state jail system; and |
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(9) any other individuals or organizations who may be |
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helpful in addressing the problems facing the state jail system. |
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(b) The advisory committee shall designate one of the |
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members as presiding officer of the committee. |
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SECTION 4. REPORT. (a) Not later than August 1, 2016, the |
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advisory committee shall submit to the department, including the |
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community justice assistance division of the department, the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the standing committees in the senate and |
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house of representatives primarily responsible for criminal |
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justice issues a report containing the recommendations developed |
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under Section 2 of this Act. |
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(b) The department shall make the report submitted under |
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Subsection (a) of this section available to the public and shall |
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publish the report on its Internet website. |
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SECTION 5. COMPENSATION. Members of the advisory committee |
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serve without compensation and are not entitled to reimbursement |
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for expenses. |
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SECTION 6. APPLICATION OF LAWS GOVERNING ADVISORY |
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COMMITTEES. The advisory committee is not subject to Chapter 2110, |
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Government Code. |
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SECTION 7. EXPIRATION DATE. The advisory committee is |
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abolished and this Act expires January 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |