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House Committee on County Affairs Interim Report to the 84th Legislature House Committee on County Affairs January 2015 HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COUNTY AFFAIRS TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INTERIM REPORT 2014 A REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 84TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE GARNET F. COLEMAN CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE CLERK KATY REAGAN Committee On County Affairs January 12, 2015 Garnet F. Coleman P.O. Box 2910 Chairman Austin, Texas 78768-2910 The Honorable Joe Straus Speaker, Texas House of Representatives Members of the Texas House of Representatives Texas State Capitol, Rm. 2W.13 Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Mr. Speaker and Fellow Members: The Committee on County Affairs of the Eighty-third Legislature hereby submits its interim report including recommendations and drafted legislation for consideration by the Eighty- fourth Legislature. Respectfully submitted, _______________________ Garnet F. Coleman _______________________ ______________________ Joe Farias Lois Kolkhorst Vice-Chair _______________________ ______________________ Todd Hunter Ana Hernandez _______________________ ______________________ David Simpson Matt Krause _______________________ ______________________ Mary Gonzalez Jonathan Stickland TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 6 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 24 Interim Charge #1 - Examine population growth in Texas counties and the impact the growth has had on housing, available land resources, businesses in Texas, as well as the impact of growth on the state's economy. Evaluate Texas's preparedness to respond to future growth and ensure economic stability. ........................................................................................................................ 26 Interim Charge #2 - Continue oversight of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and issues jails currently face, including the mental health of those in jail, and make recommendations for refinement or improvement of processes and programs. .............................................................. 27 Texas Commission on Jail Standards ........................................................................................... 28 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 28 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 29 RECOMMENDATION ...................................................................................................... 30 Prison Rape Elimination Act .................................................................................................... 31 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 31 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 31 RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................... 33 Inmates with Mental Illness ...................................................................................................... 34 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 34 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 34 RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................... 37 Certified Juveniles .................................................................................................................... 38 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 38 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 38 RECOMMENDATION ...................................................................................................... 39 Blue Warrants ........................................................................................................................... 39 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 39 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 39 RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................... 40 Paper-Ready Inmates ................................................................................................................ 41 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 41 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 41 RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................... 42 Veterans in Local Jails .............................................................................................................. 42 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 42 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 43 RECOMMENDATION ...................................................................................................... 44 Interim Charge #3 - Monitor the health advisory panel stemming from HB 3793 (83R). ........... 45 Shortage of Mental Health Beds ............................................................................................... 46 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 46 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 50 RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................... 61 Interim Charge #4 - Determine which counties have implemented a cite-and-summons policy, whether the policy has been effective in lessening overcrowding in county jails, and whether those cited by peace officers comply with the policy. .................................................................. 65 Cite - and - Summons ................................................................................................................ 65 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 65 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 66 RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................... 67 Interim Charge #5 - Study the implementation of SB 462 (83R). Examine which counties currently have veterans courts, as well as veterans courts in other states, and determine how those programs are working whether these courts provide additional services or resources for veterans. Make appropriate recommendations. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Defense and Veterans' Affairs) ..................................................................................................... 69 Veteran Treatment Courts......................................................................................................... 71 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................. 71 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................... 72 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................... 80 RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................... 81 Interim Charge #6 - Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 83rd Legislature. In conducting this oversight, the committee should: ........................................ 83 a. consider any reforms to state agencies to make them more responsive to Texas taxpayers and citizens; .................................................................................................................................. 83 b. identify issues regarding the agency or its governance that may be appropriate to investigate, improve, remedy, or eliminate; .................................................................................. 83 c. determine whether an agency is operating in a transparent and efficient manner; and ........ 83 d. identify opportunities to streamline programs and services while maintaining the mission of the agency and its programs. ......................................................................................................... 83 Texas Healthcare Transformation and Quality Improvement Program 1115 Waiver ............. 86 BACKGROUND
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