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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a strategic plan to reduce recidivism by facilitating |
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stable employment for persons who are preparing to reenter |
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communities of this state after incarceration. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 501.104 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.104. PLAN FOR REDUCING RECIDIVISM BY FACILITATING |
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STABLE EMPLOYMENT. (a) Not later than December 1, 2020, the |
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department, in collaboration with the Texas Workforce Commission |
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and the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial |
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System, shall develop a five-year strategic plan to reduce |
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recidivism by facilitating stable employment for persons who are |
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reentering communities of this state after incarceration. The |
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department shall submit the plan to: |
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(1) the governor; |
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(2) the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) the speaker of the house of representatives; and |
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(4) the standing committees of the house and senate |
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primarily responsible for criminal justice issues and corrections |
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issues. |
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(b) The strategic plan must include the following |
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information: |
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(1) an analysis of data regarding the relationship |
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between employment and recidivism; |
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(2) an analysis of data regarding the effect of |
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incarceration on a person's ability to pay financial obligations, |
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including fines, fees, court costs, and child support; |
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(3) an analysis of barriers to employment faced by |
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persons who are reentering communities of this state after |
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incarceration; |
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(4) recommendations on how the comprehensive reentry |
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and reintegration plan adopted under Section 501.092 should be |
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amended to support the strategic plan; |
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(5) recommendations to the legislature for statutory |
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changes that would allow the department to assist incarcerated |
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persons in obtaining credits or wages that would reduce any |
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financial obligations before and after reentry; |
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(6) an evaluation of opportunities for incarcerated |
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persons to earn credit toward occupational licenses while |
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incarcerated; and |
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(7) a design for a pilot program that would train |
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incarcerated persons, pay a private sector wage, and deposit a |
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portion of those wages in an account from which payments for |
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financial obligations may be withdrawn. |
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(c) This section expires September 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |