LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT

87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
Revision 2
 
May 10, 2021

TO:
Honorable Andrew S. Murr, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB3621 by Cortez (Relating to the creation of a mental health jail diversion pilot program in Bexar County.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

The provisions of the bill addressed by this analysis would amend the Health and Safety Code as it relates to creating a mental health jail diversion pilot program in Bexar County. Under the provisions of the bill, a mental health pilot program in Bexar County would be established for the purpose of reducing the frequency of arrests, incarceration, emergency detentions, and recidivism among persons with mental illness.  

This analysis assumes implementing the provisions of the bill would not result in a significant impact on the demand for state correctional resources.  The bill does not expressly create a felony offense, increase the punishment for an existing misdemeanor to that of a felony, increase the punishment for an existing felony offense or category of felony-level offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for felony community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.




Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JMc, DKN, LM, CMA, MP