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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a modernization plan for post-adjudication secure |
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correctional facilities operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice |
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Department and a task force to evaluate those facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 203, Human Resources Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 203.020 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 203.020. PLAN TO MODERNIZE SECURE FACILITIES. (a) In |
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coordination with the regionalization plan described by Section |
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203.017, the department shall develop and implement a plan to |
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modernize the secure facilities operated by the department under |
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Subtitle C. |
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(b) The plan must: |
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(1) provide for methods to: |
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(A) reduce the department's deferred maintenance |
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costs; |
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(B) increase the energy efficiency of secure |
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facilities; |
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(C) direct cost savings to pay for health care |
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costs for children committed to the department; |
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(D) increase staffing efficiency; and |
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(E) increase correctional staff compensation; |
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(2) identify options for the department to contract |
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with private sector vendors to build and maintain secure facilities |
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to be leased by the department; |
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(3) require new facilities to meet the standards for |
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secure correctional facilities published by the American |
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Correctional Association; and |
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(4) require that new facilities be designed to: |
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(A) maximize the safety of correctional |
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officers, facility staff, and children committed to the custody of |
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the department; |
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(B) comply with any court-ordered remedy; and |
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(C) facilitate the rehabilitation and |
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reintegration into society of children committed to the custody of |
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the department. |
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(c) In developing the plan, the department shall consult |
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with stakeholders and experts. |
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(d) New facilities built under the plan may only be named |
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for juvenile correctional officers or staff who: |
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(1) were killed in the course of their employment with |
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the department; or |
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(2) made significant contributions to public safety in |
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this state. |
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SECTION 2. (a) A task force is established under this |
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section to conduct a thorough evaluation of the Texas Juvenile |
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Justice Department's secure correctional facilities. |
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(b) The governor shall appoint to the task force in a number |
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that the governor deems sufficient: |
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(1) members of the house of representatives and |
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senate; |
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(2) local government officials; and |
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(3) juvenile justice stakeholders. |
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(c) Not later than September 1, 2022, the task force shall |
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submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the |
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legislature recommendations regarding which secure correctional |
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facilities operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department should |
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be: |
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(1) renovated and continued in operation as a secure |
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correctional facility by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department; |
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(2) renovated and used for a purpose other than a |
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secure correctional facility by the Texas Juvenile Justice |
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Department; or |
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(3) repurposed by an entity other than the Texas |
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Juvenile Justice Department. |
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(d) The task force established under this section is |
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abolished December 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas |
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Juvenile Justice Department shall develop the plan required by |
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Section 203.020, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the governor shall make appointments to the task force |
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created by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |