88R13693 MCF-F
 
  By: Sherman, Sr. H.B. No. 3527
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to measures to improve community supervision outcomes.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 509.003, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (e), (f), and (g) to read as follows:
         (e)  The division shall allow departments to implement
  reporting intervals for defendants directly supervised by the
  departments that are determined by risk, with higher-risk
  defendants reporting at more frequent intervals than lower-risk
  defendants. A reporting interval for a low-risk defendant may not
  exceed 12 months.
         (f)  The division shall prepare and make available guidance
  documents to assist departments and judges in determining best
  practices for the use of progressive sanctions.
         (g)  The division shall implement an online technical
  assistance library that includes online training for purposes of
  improving the rate of successful completion of community
  supervision for all departments and judges in this state.
         SECTION 2.  Section 509.011, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  The division may not reduce the amount of funding
  payable to a department under Subsection (a) based on the reporting
  interval of a defendant supervised by the department.
         SECTION 3.  Section 509.013, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
         (c)  In awarding a grant under a grant program, the division
  shall give priority to departments that:
               (1)  provide or receive training or technical
  assistance under the program implemented under Section 509.020; or
               (2)  implement innovative or cost-effective methods
  under that program.
         (d)  The division may provide grants to departments for the
  purpose of employing certified peer support specialists, certified
  recovery coaches, and certified reentry support specialists to
  provide peer-to-peer support for defendants on community
  supervision and to assist those defendants in successfully
  completing the period of community supervision.
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 509, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Sections 509.019 and 509.020 to read as follows:
         Sec. 509.019.  ANNUAL REPORT ON COMMUNITY SUPERVISION
  OUTCOMES. (a)  Not later than April 1 of each year, the division
  shall submit a report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
  speaker of the house of representatives, each member of the
  legislature, each department, and each district court, office of an
  attorney representing the state, and public defender's office in
  this state.  The report must include:
               (1)  community supervision outcomes for the preceding
  calendar year for each department, county, district court, and
  constitutional or statutory county court with criminal
  jurisdiction, including:
                     (A)  the revocation rate of defendants placed on
  community supervision;
                     (B)  the proportion of terminations of the period
  of community supervision that resulted in:
                           (i)  the defendant receiving a discharge
  following successful completion of community supervision;
                           (ii)  the defendant receiving a discharge
  following an early termination of community supervision under
  Article 42A.111 or 42A.701, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
                           (iii)  the revocation of community
  supervision; and
                     (C)  the number of:
                           (i)  revocations of community supervision
  that resulted from a plea bargain agreement;
                           (ii)  revocations of community supervision
  in cases in which the department supervising the defendant had
  recommended the continuation of community supervision;
                           (iii)  motions to adjudicate or revoke
  community supervision that did not result in an adjudication of
  guilt or the revocation of community supervision; and
                           (iv)  motions to adjudicate or revoke
  community supervision that resulted in the defendant being ordered
  to complete a treatment program in lieu of an adjudication of guilt
  or revocation of community supervision;
               (2)  a comparison of the outcomes described by
  Subdivision (1) to:
                     (A)  the statewide data for the outcomes; and
                     (B)  if applicable, the outcomes of comparable
  courts that have a rate of successful completion of community
  supervision that is above the statewide average; and
               (3)  a detailed summary of the division's efforts to
  reduce the revocation rate of defendants placed on community
  supervision.
         (b)  The division shall make the report available on the
  division's Internet website.
         Sec. 509.020.  PROGRAM FOR IMPROVING RATE OF SUCCESSFUL
  COMPLETION OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION. The division shall implement
  a program in which departments with a rate of successful completion
  of community supervision that is above the statewide average
  provide training and technical assistance to other departments for
  the purpose of improving the successful completion rate of those
  departments or implementing innovative or cost-effective methods
  in those departments.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.