BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2742

By: Reynolds

Corrections

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that state efforts to address the criminogenic needs of offenders could be improved if reentry and reintegration programs were provided as soon as the offender is taken into the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Offenders may benefit from having access to these programs and related services for a greater period of time and this in turn may reduce recidivism. C.S.H.B. 2742 makes these and other changes to the requirements in the TDCJ reentry and reintegration plan.

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

C.S.H.B. 2742 amends the Government Code to require the reentry and reintegration plan adopted by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to do the following:

· require programs that address the assessed needs of offenders to begin as soon as practicable after an offender is taken into TDCJ custody; and

· provide for a comprehensive network of transition programs to address the needs of offenders following the completion of a period of parole or mandatory supervision.

The bill requires such programs, including transition programs for offenders released or discharged from a correctional facility, to provide offenders with information about the development of prosocial behavior and positive relationships and, if requested by the offender, spiritual guidance. The bill removes requirements for those programs to provide offenders with employment training, appropriate treatment programs, including substance abuse and mental health treatment programs, and parenting and relationship building classes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2742 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute does not include a requirement that appeared in the original for the programs to provide offenders with assistance in obtaining employment and housing after an offender's release or discharge.

The substitute removes statutory requirements not removed by the original requiring the programs to include employment training, appropriate treatment programs, including substance abuse and mental health treatment programs, and parenting and relationship building classes.