87R7782 JG-D     By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 1833       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 Sections 508.158 and 508.159 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 a needs assessment to   identify:                (1)  inmates who would benefit from the use of   temporary post-release housing payments under Section 508.157(b);                (2)  inmates who require more intensive planning for   post-release housing; and                (3)  the particular housing needs of inmates due to a   disability or an inmate's familial circumstances.          (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.          Sec. 508.159.  REENTRY HOUSING TASK FORCE; BIENNIAL REPORTS.     (a)  In this section, "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.  The task   force must include:                (1)  at least one representative from each of the   following entities:                      (A)  the Texas Department of Housing and Community   Affairs;                      (B)  the Texas Veterans Commission;                      (C)  a nonprofit organization that is engaged in   creating recovery housing options in this state;                      (D)  a nonprofit organization that advocates for   persons who are required to register as a sex offender under Chapter   62, Code of Criminal Procedure;                      (E)  a nonprofit organization for family members   of persons who are incarcerated; and                      (F)  a nonprofit organization that operates a   Continuum of Care program funded wholly or partly by the United   States Department of Housing and Urban Development;                (2)  two or more individuals who are health care   professionals, one of whom must be a certified emergency medical   technician; and                (3)  one individual who specializes in the reentry of   female releasees.          (c)  The executive director shall designate a member of the   task force as the presiding officer.          (d)  The task force shall meet every other month or at the   call of the presiding officer.          (e)  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.          (f)  The task force shall:                (1)  evaluate, on an ongoing basis, 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; and                      (B)  the feasibility of expanding the use of   housing vouchers or other payments for the post-release housing of   releasees;                (2)  develop and update as necessary standards for   post-release housing for releasees that promote:                      (A)  the successful reintegration of releasees   into the community; and                      (B)  community health and safety;                (3)  develop and update as necessary 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 and update as necessary recommendations to   address the risk of homelessness for releasees who are unable to   find suitable post-release housing.          (g)  The task force and the department shall evaluate, on an   ongoing basis, the implementation of post-release housing   initiatives and planning procedures under this subchapter.          (h)  Not later than June 1 of each even-numbered year, the   task force shall prepare and submit to the department a written   report on the task force's findings under this section, including   standards, procedures, and recommendations developed under   Subsection (f) and any updates to those standards, procedures, and   recommendations.          (i)  Not later than June 30 of each even-numbered year, the   department shall compile the results of the evaluations conducted   under Subsection (g) and the findings submitted under Subsection   (h) and shall prepare and submit to the legislature a written report   on the evaluation results and findings. The report must include any   proposed legislative recommendations.          (j)  Chapter 2110 does not apply to the size, composition, or   duration of the task force or to the designation of the task force's   presiding officer.          SECTION 3.  Section 508.157(e-1), Government Code, is   repealed.          SECTION 4.  Notwithstanding the requirements of Section   508.157(b)(2), Government Code, as amended by this Act, until   January 1, 2023, 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 5.  Not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas   Department of Criminal Justice shall implement the post-release   housing planning procedure and assessment required by Section   508.158, Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 6.  Not later than November 1, 2021, the executive   director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall appoint   the members to the Reentry Housing Task Force as required by Section   508.159, Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.