| TO: | Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1070 by Hinojosa (Relating to allowing certain defendants to receive education at a substance abuse treatment facility in lieu of attending an education program; changing required conditions of community supervision for certain defendants.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, regarding the requirement that individuals convicted of DWI and other enhanced intoxication offenses participate in a rehabilitative education program, authorizing a court to order alternative education at a residential substance abuse treatment facility. Individuals similarly required to attend certain educational programs as a condition of reinstatement of a driver's license would also be allowed to substitute an equivalent program at a residential treatment facility.
The bill would require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to jointly adopt and publish rules for the approval and qualification of education programs and providers at substance abuse facilities. HHSC and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) would also be required to jointly adopt rules for equivalent substance abuse programs, on the dangers of drug abuse, provided at residential treatment facilities under the Texas Transportation Code.
The Office of Court Administration indicates no significant fiscal implication to the court system is anticipated. HHSC, DSHS, and DPS indicate any costs associated with the bill can be reasonably absorbed within each agency's current resources.
| Source Agencies: | 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 405 Department of Public Safety, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 537 State Health Services, Department of, 601 Department of Transportation, 696 Department of Criminal Justice
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| LBB Staff: | UP, KJo, TB, JN, SS
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