HBA-TBM H.B. 2540 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2540
By: Farrar
Corrections
4/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, halfway houses serve an invaluable role in the rehabilitation of
convicted offenders.  Often located within residential neighborhoods, these
facilities help reintegrate offenders into society.  This reintegration and
the neighborhood may be threatened by the establishment of numerous halfway
houses in the same area.  A proliferation of correctional and
rehabilitation facilities in a single neighborhood may invite an element of
unrehabilitated criminals that threatens the goals of the halfway houses,
endangers the community, and lowers property values in the neighborhood.
House Bill 2540 prohibits the construction or operation of a correctional
or rehabilitation facility within 3,000 feet of an existing facility.   

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 2540 amends the Local Government Code to prohibit an agency of
the state, a political subdivision of the state, or a private vendor
operating under a contract with an agency or political subdivision of the
state from constructing or operating a correctional or rehabilitation
facility (facility) within 3,000 feet of another facility.  This Act does
not apply to a facility that is in operation, under construction, under
contract for operation or construction, or planned for construction on the
effective date of this Act.  
EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.