Allen Parole Housing Bill’s Standards Wait Until 2027

The text as introduced · 1,208 words

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.