HBA-JEK H.B. 1583 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1583
By: Gallego
Corrections
3/4/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The pardons and parole division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
(division) is responsible for the investigation and supervision of all
persons released on parole or to mandatory supervision.  Under current law,
the director of the department must establish qualifications for the
division's parole officers and supervisors that are the same as those
established for community supervision and corrections department officers.
The standards, including the requirement that an officer have a bachelor's
degree, do not always meet the functional needs of the division.  House
Bill 1583 gives the division director more discretion in the hiring of
parole officers and supervisors.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1583 amends the Government Code to remove the provision that
requires the director of the pardons and parole division of the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice to establish qualifications for parole
officers and supervisors that are the same as the standards for community
supervision and corrections department officers. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.