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6 Document(s) [ Subject: Drug courts ]

Committee:	House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Appellate courts | Border issues | Court congestion | Drug courts | Family law courts | Guardianship | Juries | Operation Lone Star (Border security) | Specialty courts | Veterans courts |
Library Call Number:
Session:	87th R.S. (2021)
Online version:	View report [49 pages  File size: 3,204 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine current caseloads and capacity issues for courts handling matters related to the Texas-Mexico border. Evaluate the preparedness of the court system to handle increases in caseloads that may result from the border crisis response and make recommendations to ensure the continued fair and efficient administration of justice in the state in addressing any increased caseloads. (Joint charge with Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues)
2.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation.
3.	Study potential solutions to improve the judicial efficiency of the state courts of appeals by analyzing caseloads and making appropriate recommendations.
4.	Evaluate the use and types of guardianships in Texas and the effect of guardianship on individual rights. Study the financial costs to families related to attaining and maintaining guardianship and compare costs to those associated with guardianship alternatives, such as supported decision-making.
5.	Study the operations of specialty courts. Determine whether additional specialty courts should be considered to address needs within specific populations. Review specialty court methods and best practices that have been implemented for specialty courts in other states, including their impact on judicial efficiency.
6.	Study state laws and procedures relating to jury service eligibility, including a review of existing jury exemptions, and make recommendations to ensure the privilege, right, and duty of jury service is protected and promoted.
Committee:	House Opioids and Substance Abuse, Select
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Child Protective Services | Criminal justice | Drug courts | Drug rehabilitation programs | Emergency medical services | Homelessness | Juvenile justice system | Law enforcement | Mentally ill persons | Opioids | Penalties and sentences (Criminal justice) | Pregnancy | Prescription drugs | Specialty courts | State agencies | Substance abuse | Synthetic drugs | Veterans |
Library Call Number:	L1836.85 Op3
Session:	85th R.S. (2017)
Online version:	View report [117 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the prevalence and impact of substance use and substance use disorders in Texas, including co-occurring mental illness. Study the prevalence and impact of opioids and synthetic drugs in Texas. Review the history of overdoses and deaths due to overdoses. Also review other health-related impacts due to substance abuse. Identify substances that are contributing to overdoses, related deaths and health impacts, and compare the data to other states. During the review, identify effective and efficient prevention and treatment responses by health care systems, including hospital districts and coordination across state and local governments. Recommend solutions to prevent overdoses and related health impacts and deaths in Texas.
2.	Review the prevalence of substance abuse and substance use disorders in pregnant women, veterans, homeless individuals, and people with co-occurring mental illness. In the review, study the impact of opioids and identify available programs specifically targeted to these populations and the number of people served. Consider whether the programs have the capacity to meet the needs of Texans. In addition, research innovative programs from other states that have reduced substance abuse and substance use disorders, and determine if these programs would meet the needs of Texans. Recommend strategies to increase the capacity to provide effective services.
3.	Review policies and guidelines used by state agencies to monitor for and prevent abuse of prescription drugs in state-funded or state-administered programs. Include in this review policies implemented by the Texas Medicaid Program, the Division of Workers’ Compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance, the Teacher Retirement System, and the Employee Retirement System. Make recommendations regarding best practices.
4.	Monitor and evaluate the implementation of legislation passed by the 85th Legislature regarding the Prescription Monitoring Program. In addition, review the prescribing of addictive drugs by physicians and other health care providers within various geographic regions of this state. Determine the role of health care professionals in preventing overutilization and diversion of addictive prescriptions. Provide recommendations that will improve efforts to prevent overutilization and diversion of addictive prescriptions.
5.	Identify how opioids have impacted the normal scope of work for law enforcement, first responders, and hospital emergency department personnel.
6.	Examine the impact of substance abuse and substance use disorders on Texans who are involved in the adult or juvenile criminal justice system and/or the Child Protective Services system. Identify barriers to treatment and the availability of treatment in various areas of the state. Recommend solutions to improve state and local policy, including alternatives to justice system involvement, and ways to increase access to effective treatment and recovery options.
7.	Examine the impact of overdose reporting defense laws known as "Good Samaritan" laws.
8.	Identify the specialty courts in Texas that specialize in substance use disorders. Determine the effectiveness of these courts and consider solutions to increase the number of courts in Texas.
Supporting documents
Committee:	House Opioids and Substance Abuse, Select
Title:	Committee meeting handouts and testimony, August 7, 2018 (law enforcement and first responders, specialty courts)
Library Call Number:
Session:	85th R.S. (2017)
Online version:	View document [142 pages  File size: 9,539 kb]
Committee:	Senate Criminal Justice
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Senate Criminal Justice Committee interim report to the 79th Legislature.
Subjects:	Alternatives to incarceration | Crime Victims' Compensation Fund | Criminal Justice, Texas Department of | Drug courts | Identity theft | Law Enforcement, Texas Commission on | Parole | Police departments | Police officers | Prison population | Privately-operated prisons | Probation | Technical parole violations | Underage drinking |
Library Call Number:	L1836.78 C868
Session:	78th R.S. (2003)
Online version:	View report [95 pages  File size: 643 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study identity theft and its effects, and the impact of recent legislation addressing the issue (HB 2138, 78th R.S., SB 473, 78th R.S., and SB 566, 78th R.S.). Make recommendations for enhancing the Texas' ability to implement effective programs to prevent identity theft. Monitor federal legislation regarding identity theft to ensure that state and federal laws are complementary and make recommendations for improvements.
2.	Study and identify best practices for probation and community supervision programs including: the Community Justice Assistance Division; local probation management structure; the use of Drug Courts and the courts' impact on recidivism; programs to reduce underage drinking; mental health issues and continuity of care; use of the Community Supervision Tracking System (CSTS) and other data issues related to Criminal Justice information system components; and the implementation of HB 2668, 78th R.S.. Make recommendations for legislative changes to achieve best practices.
3.	Study the management efficiency and organizational structure of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, including implementation of recent restructuring by the TDCJ Board, and make recommendations on additional improvements, including possible consolidation of agency functions and other cost saving measures.
4.	Study the use and effectiveness of current parole guideline policies and make recommendations for changes to improve the policies. Develop innovative options that improve efficiency and enhance safe and effective correctional policy.
5.	Study and make recommendations relating to improving the use of specialized police agencies and officers, specifically, the necessity, accountability, qualifications, and jurisdictions of such police agencies.
6.	Review the Crime Victims Compensation Fund (Fund), including state and local competition, use in state agency methods of finance, evaluation of grant programs, possible diversion of funds from crime victims as a result of prior legislation, and whether the Fund meets the objectives of its authorizing legislation.
7.	Study the number of foreign citizens serving sentences in Texas prisons, including information relating to prison terms, recidivism, and types of offenses. Make recommendations for reducing the costs of providing prison services for this population, including leveraging of federal immigration funds and possible international agreements to pay home countries to transfer the prisoners to their respective countries to serve the remainder of their terms.
8.	Study and make recommendations concerning the cost effectiveness and efficiency of private prisons, including private services performed at state-owned prisons.
Committee:	House Judicial Affairs
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Judicial Affairs, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 2002 : a report to the House of Representatives, 78th Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	Campaign finance reform | Conflicts of interest | Contraceptives | County clerks | Court Administration, Texas Office of | Court costs and fees | Court reform | Crime prevention | District court clerks | Drug courts | Drug enforcement | Elder abuse | Electronic business filings | Ethics | Facsimiles | Guardianship | Judicial Council, Texas | Judicial districts | Judicial elections | Judicial selection | Law clerks | Redistricting | Searches and seizures | Senior citizens | Sex crimes | Tulia, Texas | Voter education | Wrongful convictions |
Library Call Number:	L1836.77 j899
Session:	77th R.S. (2001)
Online version:	View report [31 pages  File size: 242 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Review the Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act, including witnessing, notarization, and notification; possible abuse of elders; refusal of financial institutions to accept Texas' law; and accounting and liability issues concerning attorneys-in-fact.
2.	Develop a plan for judicial redistricting as required by the Texas Constitution, Article V, Section 7a.
3.	Evaluate the rules of ethical conduct, conflict and disclosure for briefing clerks of the appellate courts.
4.	Study the feasibility of creating a statewide sexual assault prevention program.
5.	Make an assessment of all issues related to the current organization of the Texas Judicial Council and the Office of Court Administration. Consider the efficiency, responsiveness and accountability of the current organization, and make any appropriate recommendations for change.
6.	Monitor the progress of efforts to enable the filing of court documents of all kinds by facsimile or other electronic means, including the use of electronic signatures, actual or electronic notarization, and the need for verification.
7.	Assess the current state of judicial campaigns in regard to financing, accountability, immunity and candidate qualification. Make any appropriate reform recommendations.
8.	Study the fees assessed by district and county clerks for filing and processing civil cases and consider the establishment of a uniform schedule of fees.
9.	Actively monitor agencies and programs under the committee's oversight jurisdiction, including the new Court Interpreter's Board.
Committee:	House Judicial Affairs
Title:	Interim report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Judicial Affairs, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 2000 : a report to the House of Representatives, 77th Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	Attorney General Child Support Division | Child support | Court reform | Court Reporters Certification Board, Texas | Drug courts | Drug rehabilitation programs | Hate crimes | Judicial districts | Judicial Districts Board | Judicial elections | Redistricting |
Library Call Number:	L1836.76 j899
Session:	76th R.S. (1999)
Online version:	View report [57 pages  File size: 3,049 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the need to revise Texas law on hate crimes.
2.	Review and assess the success of specialized drug courts in other states.
3.	Conduct a comprehensive review of the appellate court system, including issues related to the selection of appellate judges, judicial redistricting, efficiency of handling workload, overlapping appellate districts and forum shopping.
4.	Review the need for the Judicial Districts Board.
5.	Conduct active oversight of the agencies under the committee's jurisdiction.

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