Bill Text: TX HB2448 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of an advisory committee to examine the state jail system within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-05-12 - Referred to Criminal Justice [HB2448 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB2448-Introduced.html
| 84R11001 JRR-F | ||
| By: White of Tyler | H.B. No. 2448 | |
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| relating to the creation of an advisory committee to examine the | ||
| state jail system within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: | ||
| (1) "Department" means the Texas Department of | ||
| Criminal Justice. | ||
| (2) "State jail" means a state jail felony facility | ||
| operated by or under contract with the department under Section | ||
| 507.001, Government Code. | ||
| SECTION 2. VOLUNTARY STATE JAIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Not | ||
| later than December 1, 2015, the department shall convene an | ||
| advisory committee composed of volunteers to review the problems | ||
| facing the state jail system and provide recommendations to guide | ||
| state criminal justice policies and practices relating to state | ||
| jails. | ||
| SECTION 3. MEMBERS; PRESIDING OFFICER. (a) In recruiting | ||
| volunteers to serve on the advisory committee, the department shall | ||
| include members who are interested parties, including: | ||
| (1) representatives of the department; | ||
| (2) representatives of community supervision and | ||
| corrections departments established under Chapter 76, Government | ||
| Code; | ||
| (3) district or county attorneys in this state; | ||
| (4) criminal defense attorneys; | ||
| (5) individuals who have expertise in the state jail | ||
| system and are members of an advocacy or civil rights organization; | ||
| (6) individuals who have expertise in issues related | ||
| to criminal justice and criminal law; | ||
| (7) individuals who have expertise in issues related | ||
| to substance abuse and mental health; | ||
| (8) individuals who were formerly incarcerated in the | ||
| state jail system; and | ||
| (9) any other individuals or organizations who may be | ||
| helpful in addressing the problems facing the state jail system. | ||
| (b) The advisory committee shall designate one of the | ||
| members as presiding officer of the committee. | ||
| SECTION 4. REPORT. (a) Not later than August 1, 2016, the | ||
| advisory committee shall submit to the department, including the | ||
| community justice assistance division of the department, the | ||
| governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of | ||
| representatives, and the standing committees in the senate and | ||
| house of representatives primarily responsible for criminal | ||
| justice issues a report containing the recommendations developed | ||
| under Section 2 of this Act. | ||
| (b) The department shall make the report submitted under | ||
| Subsection (a) of this section available to the public and shall | ||
| publish the report on its Internet website. | ||
| SECTION 5. COMPENSATION. Members of the advisory committee | ||
| serve without compensation and are not entitled to reimbursement | ||
| for expenses. | ||
| SECTION 6. APPLICATION OF LAWS GOVERNING ADVISORY | ||
| COMMITTEES. The advisory committee is not subject to Chapter 2110, | ||
| Government Code. | ||
| SECTION 7. EXPIRATION DATE. The advisory committee is | ||
| abolished and this Act expires January 1, 2017. | ||
| SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect | ||
| immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members | ||
| elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas | ||
| Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for | ||
| immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
