BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3420

By: Darby

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the state supported living center in San Angelo should be designated as a forensic state supported living center to reflect how the center is being used and that forensic state supported living centers should have more flexibility in managing their offender residents. H.B. 3420 seeks to implement these changes.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3420 amends the Health and Safety Code to include the San Angelo state supported living center among the state supported living centers for which the health and human services agency responsible for state supported living centers is required to designate a separate forensic state supported living center for the care of high-risk alleged offender residents. The bill removes the specification that high-risk alleged offender residents are apart from other clients and residents and replaces the requirement that such residents be housed in separate homes with a requirement that they be housed in appropriate homes. The bill clarifies that the number of employees for which the applicable health and human services agency is required to ensure that each forensic state supported living center has is a sufficient number of center employees to protect the safety of center employees, residents, and the community.

H.B. 3420 amends the Education Code to make conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.