The bill amends the Local Government Code relating to the creation of the Justice Reinvestment Incentive Program.
The bill would authorize counties to create and implement a two-year justice reinvestment plan that seeks to reduce the number of persons committed to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). A county that implements a justice reinvestment plan resulting in a reduction in the number of persons committed to TDCJ by not less than 25 percent may apply for an award in an amount equal to 90 percent of the amount of the actual cost savings to the state.
The fiscal impact of the bill would be dependent on how many counties opt into the program and are successfully able to meet the 25 percent reduction in persons committed to TDCJ. Also, the number and amount in awards provided to counties through the program would be contingent upon appropriations for the program enabled by the Legislature. As a result, the fiscal impact of this bill cannot be determined.
The Comptroller estimates that based on new admissions data, if all counties successfully implemented justice reinvestment plans at a reduced rate of incarceration by 25.0 percent, total awards earned for a two-year period could be $600 million. The impact would be dependent on the number of counties participating in the program and cannot be estimated at this time. The Comptroller's estimate assumes the General Revenue Fund would be used to fund the awards.
The Comptroller of Public Accounts (Comptroller) estimates there would be administrative costs associated with implementing the provisions of this bill. This analysis assumes the administrative costs could be absorbed within existing resources.
This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill would not result in a significant impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources.
The fiscal implications to local units of government cannot be determined at this time.