Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB677 by Miles (Relating to the creation of a task force to identify opportunities for academic credit and industry recognition for inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Windham School District (WSD) to establish a task force in consultation with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). The bill would require the task force to conduct a comprehensive review of the work or other productive activities undertaken by individuals confined or imprisoned by TDCJ and to identify opportunities for those individuals to gain academic or industry credit through these activities. The bill would require WSD, in consultation with TDCJ, the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission, to determine what steps or actions must be taken for the credit to be awarded and to prepare and submit a report summarizing any findings and actions taken at least once every four years.
The bill would require the task force to have seven members appointed by designated state and private stakeholders and would entitle the task force members to reimbursement of necessary expenses. The bill would allow the task force to accept gifts or grants from any source to carry out its functions.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017 and would require members of the task force be appointed by December 1, 2017.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission anticipate no significant fiscal impact to the State.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 696 Department of Criminal Justice, 701 Texas Education Agency, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board