BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1180

By: Menéndez

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that there are numerous veterans treatment court programs in Texas that look to reduce recidivism rates among veterans in the criminal justice system by requiring active participation in certain self-improvement programs as an alternative to traditional incarceration. There have been calls for lawmakers to have more information on these programs and their costs and successes in order to make well-informed policy decisions. S.B. 1180 seeks to require the Texas Veterans Commission to report certain information on these programs on an annual basis to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature.

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

S.B. 1180 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Veterans Commission , not later than December 1 of each year, to report the following information regarding veterans treatment court programs for the preceding state fiscal year to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature:

· the number of defendants who participated in each veterans treatment court program, successfully completed each program, and did not successfully complete each program; and

· the amount of grant funding received by each program.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.