BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 860

By: Flores

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that the oversight functions of the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee have largely been absorbed by standing committees in the house and senate, making the continued existence of the committee unnecessary, and it has not been active in nearly two decades. However, the committee remains in statute, and its continued presence in state law results in outdated reporting requirements and references that must be updated or repealed to streamline statutory language and reflect current legislative practice. S.B. 860 repeals statutory provisions that established the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee and removes references to the committee in two additional statutes regarding reports.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 860 repeals Chapter 328, Government Code, which relates to the establishment and operation of the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee.

S.B. 860 amends the Government Code to replace the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee with each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) as the recipient of the annual report submitted by the director of TDCJ on the outcome of any meetings held under provisions relating to management-employee meetings. The bill removes the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee as one of the recipients of the annual report submitted by the Board of Pardons and Paroles (BPP) regarding the BPP's application of the parole guidelines.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.