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.), As Introduced
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, the Health and Human Services Commission in cooperation with the Bexar County local mental health authority would be required to establish a mental health pilot program for the purpose of reducing recidivism and the frequency of arrests and incarceration among persons with mental illness in that county.
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.