HBA-MSH, JEK H.B. 2015 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2015 By: Garcia Corrections 3/18/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates 53 state prison units, over half of which have been constructed in the 1990s. The current value of all correctional and support facilities of the TDCJ is over $4 billion. Currently the Criminal Justice Policy Council (policy council) is required to report on and make prison capacity and population projections as well as performance reviews evaluating rates of recidivism. House Bill 2015 requires the policy council to make recommendations concerning rehabilitation programs and places a moratorium on new prison construction until August 31, 2005. 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 2015 amends the Government Code to establish a moratorium on entering into a contract for the construction or beginning of the construction of a secure correctional facility by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) between September 1, 2001 and August 31, 2005. H.B. 2015 requires the Criminal Justice Policy Council (policy council) to include with its required report to the 78th and 79th regular sessions of the legislature a special report related to the studies by the policy council regarding projected capacity and population of correctional facilities, and the success of programs and services offered by TDCJ, with the primary purpose of rehabilitating inmates. The bill requires the special report to contain the recommendations of the policy council as to those rehabilitation programs not currently used in this state that show, in the opinion of the council, the most promise for reducing recidivism and protecting public safety. The bill provides that the special report must be more detailed than the capacity and population projections and the recidivism performance review that the policy council is already required to submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. These provisions expire September 1, 2005. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.