HBA-TBM H.B. 772 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 772
By: Haggerty
Corrections
3/11/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) houses more than
1,000 elderly inmates, approximately 200 of whom suffer from chronic
medical conditions that require 24-hour nursing care. TDCJ's elderly
population is expected to rise to more than 10,000 by 2008.  The
legislature has created a special needs parole program to release certain
of these inmates to alternative facilities where federal funds can be used
to defray some of their expenses.  House Bill 772 authorizes the release of
inmates with chronic illnesses into the special needs parole program.  

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 772 amends the Government Code to authorize the release on
special needs parole of an inmate who is significantly ill with a chronic
disease.  The bill requires the Texas Council on Offenders with Mental
Impairments and the Texas Department of Human Services to jointly request
proposals from public or private vendors to provide services for inmates
released on special needs parole.  The bill requires that the services be
provided in a nursing home located in an urban area. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.