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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of an advisory committee regarding the |
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confinement in county jail of persons with intellectual or |
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developmental disabilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 511.022 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 511.022. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The commission |
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shall establish an advisory committee to advise the commission and |
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make recommendations on matters related to the confinement in |
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county jail of persons with intellectual or developmental |
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disabilities. |
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(b) The advisory committee consists of 11 members appointed |
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by the presiding officer of the commission, with the commission's |
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approval, as follows: |
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(1) one representative of the commission; |
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(2) one representative of the Department of State |
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Health Services; |
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(3) one representative of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission with expertise in intellectual and |
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developmental disabilities; |
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(4) one representative of the Texas Commission on Law |
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Enforcement; |
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(5) one representative of the Texas Correctional |
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Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments; |
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(6) one sheriff of a county with a population of 80,000 |
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or more; |
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(7) one sheriff of a county with a population of less |
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than 80,000; |
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(8) one representative of a statewide organization |
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that advocates for individuals with intellectual and developmental |
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disabilities; |
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(9) one representative who is a mental health |
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professional with a focus on trauma and intellectual and |
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developmental disabilities; |
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(10) one representative from a state supported living |
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center; and |
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(11) one member who represents the public. |
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(c) Members of the advisory committee serve staggered |
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six-year terms, with the terms of three or four members expiring |
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January 31 of each odd-numbered year. If a vacancy occurs during a |
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member's term, the presiding officer of the commission, with the |
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commission's approval, shall appoint a replacement to fill the |
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unexpired term. |
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(d) The presiding officer of the commission shall designate |
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one member of the advisory committee to serve as presiding officer |
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of the committee for a two-year term. |
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(e) The advisory committee shall: |
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(1) gather and review data regarding the confinement |
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in county jails of persons with intellectual or developmental |
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disabilities; and |
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(2) provide recommendations and guidelines to |
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sheriffs and counties regarding the confinement of persons with |
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intellectual or developmental disabilities. |
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(f) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the advisory committee shall submit a report that includes |
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recommendations for legislative or other action related to the |
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confinement of persons with intellectual or developmental |
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disabilities in county jails 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) each standing committee of the legislature with |
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primary jurisdiction over the commission. |
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(g) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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size, composition, or duration of the advisory committee or to the |
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designation of the committee's presiding officer. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2022, the |
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presiding officer of the Commission on Jail Standards shall appoint |
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members to the advisory committee created under Section 511.022, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 511.022(c), Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, in making the initial appointments to the |
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advisory committee, the presiding officer of the commission shall |
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designate four members to serve terms expiring January 31, 2023, |
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four members to serve terms expiring January 31, 2025, and three |
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members to serve terms expiring January 31, 2027. |
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SECTION 3. The advisory committee created under Section |
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511.022, Government Code, as added by this Act, shall submit its |
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first report under Section 511.022(f), Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, not later than December 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |