BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2201
88R3894 MPF-F	By: Canales (Whitmire)
	Criminal Justice
	5/17/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Inmates in state jail facilities who are eligible for confinement in a substance abuse felony punishment facility (SAFPF) do not always receive the proper care their conditions warrant. This is because, under current law, the state jail felony division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has the authority to designate a discrete area within a state jail felony facility to treat these inmates rather than sending them to an official SAFPF for rehabilitation.

Modifications need to be made to the authorization for where certain inmates are incarcerated at state jail felony facilities.

H.B. 2201 removes the authority of TDCJ to designate discrete areas where they can house or treat inmates in need of substance abuse treatment while imprisoned in the TDCJ system.

H.B. 2201 amends current law relating to housing certain inmates in state jail felony facilities.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 507.006(a), Government Code, as follows:

(a) Deletes existing text authorizing the state jail division, with approval of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice to designate one or more discrete areas within one or more state jail felony facilities to treat inmates who are eligible for confinement in a substance abuse felony punishment facility under Section 493.009 (Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facilities) or to house inmates who are sentenced to imprisonment in the institutional division under certain circumstances, notwithstanding any other provisions of Subchapter A (State Jail Felony Facilities).

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2023.