BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3227

By: Howard

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that female inmates have access to fewer educational and vocational programs than male inmates. Additionally, a recent survey indicated that female inmates do not believe that enough is being done to address their employment training needs. H.B. 3227 seeks to address these issues by requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to implement policies to increase and promote female inmates' access to TDCJ programs, including educational and vocational programs.

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. 3227 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to develop and implement policies that increase and promote a female inmate's access to programs offered to inmates in the custody of TDCJ, including educational, vocational, substance use treatment, rehabilitation, life skills training, and prerelease programs. The bill prohibits TDCJ from reducing or limiting a male inmate's access to such a program. The bill requires TDCJ, not later than December 31 of each year beginning in 2020, to prepare and submit a related written report that includes certain specified information to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, each standing committee of the legislature having primary jurisdiction over TDCJ, and the reentry task force and to publish the report on its website. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.