HB2943 - Relating to post-release housing for inmates released on parole or to mandatory supervision.

  89R12825 BCH-D     By: Allen H.B. No. 2943       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to post-release housing for inmates released on parole or   to mandatory supervision.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 508.157, Government Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read   as follows:          (b)   The [ If the department does not operate or contract for   the operation of a residential correctional facility in the county   of legal residence of an inmate or releasee, the ] department may   issue, for an inmate described by Subsection (a) or for a releasee,   payment for the cost of temporary post-release housing that:                (1)  meets any conditions or requirements imposed by a   parole panel;                (2)   meets or exceeds the standards developed by the   Reentry Housing Task Force; and                 (3)   is located in the county of legal residence of the   inmate or releasee[ ; and                [ (3)     except as provided by Subsection (e-1), is in a   structure that existed on June 1, 2009, as a multifamily residence   or as a motel to which Section 156.001, Tax Code, applies ].           (f)     The department shall actively seek grants from any   source for the purpose of expanding the use of temporary   post-release housing payments under Subsection (b) as an   alternative to housing an inmate described by Subsection (a) or a   releasee in a residential correctional facility. Notwithstanding   Subsection (d), the department may issue payments under Subsection   (b) out of grant funds received for that purpose.           (g)  The department shall:                 (1)     prioritize the use of temporary post-release   housing payments under Subsection (b) to reduce the average number   of days an inmate described by Subsection (a) or a releasee is   housed in a residential correctional facility; and                 (2)     reduce the number of inmates or releasees housed   in a residential correctional facility if the department determines   that the issuance of payments under Subsection (b) increases the   availability of temporary post-release housing that meets or   exceeds the standards described by Subsection (b)(2).          SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 508.158 to read as follows:           Sec.   508.158.     POST-RELEASE HOUSING PLANNING PROCEDURE AND   REPORT. (a) In this section, "residential correctional facility"   has the meaning assigned by Section 508.157.           (b)     The department shall implement a post-release housing   planning procedure for releasees that includes the early   identification and assessment of inmates who do not have an   established plan for housing following release on parole or to   mandatory supervision.           (c)     In implementing the post-release housing planning   procedure, the department shall create an assessment to identify:                 (1)     inmates who are low-risk and would benefit from   the use of temporary post-release housing payments under Section   508.157(b); and                 (2)     inmates who require more intensive planning for   post-release housing.           (d)     Not later than February 1 of each year, the department   shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker   of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the   legislature with primary jurisdiction over the department a report   that includes the following information for the preceding year:                 (1)     the number of inmates described by Subsection (b)   and the department's efforts to find post-release housing for those   inmates;                 (2)     the department's efforts to reduce the length of   time between an inmate's parole approval and the release of the   inmate on parole for an inmate described by Subsection (b);                 (3)     the department's efforts to expand post-release   housing options in local communities, including post-release   housing that meets or exceeds the standards developed by the   Reentry Housing Task Force;                 (4)     the average number of days a releasee is housed in   a residential correctional facility; and                 (5)     the number of releasees who absconded from a   residential correctional facility.          SECTION 3.  Section 508.157(e-1), Government Code, is   repealed.          SECTION 4.  (a) In this section:                (1)  "Department" means the Texas Department of   Criminal Justice.                (2)  "Releasee" has the meaning assigned by Section   508.001, Government Code.                (3)  "Task force" means the Reentry Housing Task Force   established under this section.          (b)  The Reentry Housing Task Force is established and is   composed of members appointed by the executive director of the   department.  The task force must include at least one   representative from each of the following entities:                (1)  the Texas Department of Housing and Community   Affairs;                (2)  the Texas Veterans Commission;                (3)  a nonprofit organization that is engaged in   creating recovery housing options in this state;                (4)  a nonprofit organization that advocates for   persons who are required to register as a sex offender under Chapter   62, Code of Criminal Procedure;                (5)  a nonprofit organization for family members of   persons who are incarcerated; and                (6)  a nonprofit organization that operates a Continuum   of Care program funded wholly or partly by the United States   Department of Housing and Urban Development.          (c)  Not later than November 1, 2025, the executive director   of the department shall:                (1)  appoint the members of the task force; and                (2)  designate a member as the presiding officer of the   task force.          (d)  A member of the task force is not entitled to   compensation for service on the task force but is entitled to   reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by the member while   conducting the business of the task force as provided by the General   Appropriations Act.          (e)  The task force shall:                (1)  evaluate strategies for improving post-release   housing for releasees, including:                      (A)  methods to provide housing options for   releasees that are in addition to housing provided by residential   correctional facilities, as that term is defined by Section   508.157, Government Code; and                      (B)  the feasibility of expanding the use of   housing vouchers or other payments for the post-release housing of   releasees;                (2)  develop standards for post-release housing for   releasees that are consistent with nationally recognized standards   for recovery housing;                (3)  develop a post-release housing planning procedure   for releasees that the department may implement that includes the   early identification and assessment of inmates who do not have an   established plan for housing following release on parole or to   mandatory supervision; and                (4)  develop recommendations to address the risk of   homelessness for releasees who are unable to find suitable   post-release housing.          (f)  Not later than December 1, 2026, the task force shall   prepare and submit to the department and the legislature a written   report on the task force's findings under this section. The report   must include the standards, procedures, and recommendations   developed under Subsection (e) of this section.          (g)  The task force is abolished and this section expires   September 1, 2027.          SECTION 5.  Notwithstanding the requirements of Section   508.157(b)(2), Government Code, as amended by this Act, until   January 1, 2027, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice may   continue to make payments for the cost of temporary post-release   housing under the requirements of Section 508.157(b), Government   Code, that existed immediately before the effective date of this   Act, and those requirements are continued in effect for that   purpose.          SECTION 6.  Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas   Department of Criminal Justice shall implement the post-release   housing planning procedure required by Section 508.158, Government   Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 7.  The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall   submit the first report required by Section 508.158(d), Government   Code, as added by this Act, not later than February 1, 2027.          SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.