88R2802 BDP-D
 
  By: Allen, Jones of Dallas, Garcia, et al. H.B. No. 965
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to post-release housing for inmates released on parole or
  to mandatory supervision.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 508.157, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read
  as follows:
         (b)  The [If the department does not operate or contract for
  the operation of a residential correctional facility in the county
  of legal residence of an inmate or releasee, the] department may
  issue, for an inmate described by Subsection (a) or for a releasee,
  payment for the cost of temporary post-release housing that:
               (1)  meets any conditions or requirements imposed by a
  parole panel;
               (2)  meets or exceeds the standards developed by the
  Reentry Housing Task Force; and
               (3)  is located in the county of legal residence of the
  inmate or releasee[; and
               [(3)  except as provided by Subsection (e-1), is in a
  structure that existed on June 1, 2009, as a multifamily residence
  or as a motel to which Section 156.001, Tax Code, applies].
         (f)  The department shall actively seek grants from any
  source for the purpose of expanding the use of temporary
  post-release housing payments under Subsection (b) as an
  alternative to housing an inmate described by Subsection (a) or a
  releasee in a residential correctional facility. Notwithstanding
  Subsection (d), the department may issue payments under Subsection
  (b) out of grant funds received for that purpose.
         (g)  The department shall:
               (1)  prioritize the use of temporary post-release
  housing payments under Subsection (b) to reduce the average number
  of days an inmate described by Subsection (a) or a releasee is
  housed in a residential correctional facility; and
               (2)  reduce the number of inmates or releasees housed
  in a residential correctional facility if the department determines
  that the issuance of payments under Subsection (b) increases the
  availability of temporary post-release housing that meets or
  exceeds the standards described by Subsection (b)(2).
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 508.158 to read as follows:
         Sec. 508.158.  POST-RELEASE HOUSING PLANNING PROCEDURE AND
  REPORT. (a) In this section, "residential correctional facility"
  has the meaning assigned by Section 508.157.
         (b)  The department shall implement a post-release housing
  planning procedure for releasees that includes the early
  identification and assessment of inmates who do not have an
  established plan for housing following release on parole or to
  mandatory supervision.
         (c)  In implementing the post-release housing planning
  procedure, the department shall create an assessment to identify:
               (1)  inmates who are low-risk and would benefit from
  the use of temporary post-release housing payments under Section
  508.157(b); and
               (2)  inmates who require more intensive planning for
  post-release housing.
         (d)  Not later than February 1 of each year, the department
  shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker
  of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the
  legislature with primary jurisdiction over the department a report
  that includes the following information for the preceding year:
               (1)  the number of inmates described by Subsection (b)
  and the department's efforts to find post-release housing for those
  inmates;
               (2)  the department's efforts to reduce the length of
  time between an inmate's parole approval and the release of the
  inmate on parole for an inmate described by Subsection (b);
               (3)  the department's efforts to expand post-release
  housing options in local communities, including post-release
  housing that meets or exceeds the standards developed by the
  Reentry Housing Task Force;
               (4)  the average number of days a releasee is housed in
  a residential correctional facility; and
               (5)  the number of releasees who absconded from a
  residential correctional facility.
         SECTION 3.  Section 508.157(e-1), Government Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 4.  (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Department" means the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice.
               (2)  "Releasee" has the meaning assigned by Section
  508.001, Government Code.
               (3)  "Task force" means the Reentry Housing Task Force
  established under this section.
         (b)  The Reentry Housing Task Force is established and is
  composed of members appointed by the executive director of the
  department.  The task force must include at least one
  representative from each of the following entities:
               (1)  the Texas Department of Housing and Community
  Affairs;
               (2)  the Texas Veterans Commission;
               (3)  a nonprofit organization that is engaged in
  creating recovery housing options in this state;
               (4)  a nonprofit organization that advocates for
  persons who are required to register as a sex offender under Chapter
  62, Code of Criminal Procedure;
               (5)  a nonprofit organization for family members of
  persons who are incarcerated; and
               (6)  a nonprofit organization that operates a Continuum
  of Care program funded wholly or partly by the United States
  Department of Housing and Urban Development.
         (c)  Not later than November 1, 2023, the executive director
  of the department shall:
               (1)  appoint the members of the task force; and
               (2)  designate a member as the presiding officer of the
  task force.
         (d)  A member of the task force is not entitled to
  compensation for service on the task force but is entitled to
  reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by the member while
  conducting the business of the task force as provided by the General
  Appropriations Act.
         (e)  The task force shall:
               (1)  evaluate strategies for improving post-release
  housing for releasees, including:
                     (A)  methods to provide housing options for
  releasees that are in addition to housing provided by residential
  correctional facilities, as that term is defined by Section
  508.157, Government Code; and
                     (B)  the feasibility of expanding the use of
  housing vouchers or other payments for the post-release housing of
  releasees;
               (2)  develop standards for post-release housing for
  releasees that are consistent with nationally recognized standards
  for recovery housing;
               (3)  develop a post-release housing planning procedure
  for releasees that the department may implement that includes the
  early identification and assessment of inmates who do not have an
  established plan for housing following release on parole or to
  mandatory supervision; and
               (4)  develop recommendations to address the risk of
  homelessness for releasees who are unable to find suitable
  post-release housing.
         (f)  Not later than December 1, 2024, the task force shall
  prepare and submit to the department and the legislature a written
  report on the task force's findings under this section. The report
  must include the standards, procedures, and recommendations
  developed under Subsection (e) of this section.
         (g)  The task force is abolished and this section expires
  September 1, 2025.
         SECTION 5.  Notwithstanding the requirements of Section
  508.157(b)(2), Government Code, as amended by this Act, until
  January 1, 2025, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice may
  continue to make payments for the cost of temporary post-release
  housing under the requirements of Section 508.157(b), Government
  Code, that existed immediately before the effective date of this
  Act, and those requirements are continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 6.  Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice shall implement the post-release
  housing planning procedure required by Section 508.158, Government
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 7.  The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall
  submit the first report required by Section 508.158(d), Government
  Code, as added by this Act, not later than February 1, 2025.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.