By Laura Nicholes
TAC Legislative Staff

SB 840 by Hinojosa – Relating to procedures for certain persons charged with certain new offenses or an administrative violation of a condition of release from the Department of Criminal Justice on parole or to mandatory supervision.  4-27-09 Placed on the Senate Intent Calendar 

HB 1711 by Turner – Relating to requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to establish a comprehensive reentry and reintegration plan for offenders released or discharged from a correctional facility.  4-24-09 Passed the House

HB 1714 by Dutton - Relating to the repeal of the authority of a county to contract with a private entity for jail facilities.  This bill would have a significant impact on counties in that it would eliminate one option conties have in addressing the housing of inmates.  The bill does allow existing contracts with private vendors to remain in force. 4-22-09 Meeting Cancelled House Corrections.

HB 2100 by Martinez-Fischer – Relating to procedures for certain persons charged with certain new offenses or an administrative violation of a condition of release from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on parole or to mandatory supervision.  This bill addresses “blue warrant” inmates who have violated a condition of parole and are currently prohibited from posting bond prior to a court hearing.  HB 2100 would authorized a parole officer to note on the face of a warrant if an offender was eligible to post bond and be released from jail prior to a court hearing.  Eligibility standards would prohibit certain offenders from qualifying for release.  4-24-09 Passed the House

HB 2170 by Chavez – Relating to the minimum number of county jailers necessary to staff a county jail.  This bill would mandate a county to employ at least one county jailer for every 48 inmates housed in the county jail.  In addition, the commissioners court of a county would be mandated to provide sufficient funding for the employment of county jailers in the numbers required.  The bill is attempting to place the current guard to inmate ratio of 1 to 48 in statute rather than maintaining it in Rules prescribed by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. 4-9-09 Committee action pending, County Affairs

HB 2246 by Turner – Relating to the ratio of correctional officers to prisoners in a county jail. This bill would place the guard to inmate ratio in statute rather than maintaining it in Rules prescribed by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.  The bill mandates 1 correctional officer on each floor of a jail housing 10 or more inmates and 1 correctional officer per 48 inmates housed on a floor.  In addition, commissioners courts would be mandated to provide the sheriff with resources necessary to ensure that staffing requirements are met.  4-16-09 Committee action pending, County Affairs