TITLE: Relating to an annual report by the reentry and integration division and the parole division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

SUMMARY: Relating to an annual report by the reentry and integration division and the parole division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to an annual report by the reentry and integration division and the parole division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 501, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 501.103 to read as follows: Sec. 501.103. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Not later than December 31 of each year, the department's reentry and integration division and parole division shall jointly prepare and submit an annual report to: (1) the governor; (2) the lieutenant governor; (3) the speaker of the house of representatives; (4) the standing committees of the house and senate primarily responsible for criminal justice issues and corrections issues; and (5) the reentry task force. (b) The report must include the following information about parole during the year in which the report is submitted: (1) the number of referrals of releasees for employment, housing, medical care, treatment for substance abuse or mental illness, education, or other basic needs; (2) the outcome of each referral; (3) the identified areas in which referrals are not possible due to unavailable resources or providers; (4) community resources available to releases including but not limited to faith-based and volunteer organizations; and (5) parole officer training. (c) The report must include the following information about reentry and reintegration during the year in which the report is submitted: (1) the outcomes of programs and services that are available to releasees based on follow-up inquiries evaluating clients' progress after release; (2) the common reentry barriers identified during releasees' individual assessments, including in areas of employment, housing, medical care, treatment for substance abuse or mental illness, education, or other basic needs; (3) the common reentry benefits and services that reentry coordinators help releasees obtain or apply for; (4) available community resources including but not limited to faith-based and volunteer organizations; and (5) reentry coordinator training. (d) The report required by Subsection (a) must be made available to the public. SECTION 2. The reentry and integration division and the parole division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall submit the initial report required by Section 501.103, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than December 31, 2014. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.