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6 Document(s) [ Subject: Operation Lone Star (Border security) ]
| Committee: | Senate Border Security | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Subjects: | Border security | Crime | Operation Lone Star (Border security) | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.87 B728 | |
| Session: | 87th R.S. (2021) | |
| Online version: | View report [47 pages File size: 4,454 kb] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Funding Impact on Safety: Monitor the agencies receiving border security funding and report on their success in providing safety along the state’s international border as well as curtailing the proliferation of transnational crime that spreads across the state. | |
| 2. | Community Impact: Study and report on the impact of Operation Lone Star on border, rural, and urban communities throughout Texas. | |
| 3. | Resource Allocation: Examine and report on the impact on members of the Texas National Guard and essential professions that have employees actively serving on state active duty. Review the availability of existing border barrier materials that remain unused by the Federal Government and report on whether Texas may make use of these materials to secure the border. | |
| Committee: | House County Affairs | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Subjects: | Alternatives to incarceration | Arrest warrants | Border security | County budgets | County employees | County jails | Court costs and fees | Criminal Justice, Texas Department of | Disease preparedness | Family violence | Fines | Jail population | Jail Standards, Texas Commission on | Mental health services | Mentally ill inmates | Municipal jails | Municipalities | Operation Lone Star (Border security) | Parole | Prison population | Prisons | Probation | Quarantines | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.87 C832 | |
| Session: | 87th R.S. (2021) | |
| Online version: | View report [31 pages File size: 781 kb] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Review the existing and anticipated populations in state prisons and city and county jails located near the Texas-Mexico border. Make recommendations for alleviating or addressing any increase or over-crowding that may result as well as any other particularized needs or circumstances that have arisen or could arise as a result of an increase in population in correctional facilities, including, but not limited to, intake capacity, adequacy of facilities and other health and safety considerations. Make recommendations to mitigate any associated costs borne by border counties and municipalities. (Joint charge with Committee on Corrections) | |
| 2. | Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
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| 3. | Study statutorily mandated services provided by sheriffs and constables and determine whether fee schedules are set at sufficient levels to allow for cost recovery without placing undue burdens on recipients of those services. | |
| 4. | For individuals in county jails and Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities, or on community supervision or parole, examine:
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| Committee: | House Defense and Veterans' Affairs | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Subjects: | Mental health services | Military families | Operation Lone Star (Border security) | Post-traumatic stress disorder | Public Safety, Texas Department of | Texas National Guard | Texas State Guard | Veterans | Veterans health care | | |
| Library Call Number: | ||
| Session: | 87th R.S. (2021) | |
| Online version: | View report [50 pages File size: 3,879 kb] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Monitor the activities of the Texas State Guard and the Texas National Guard participating in Operation Lone Star. Consider any legal or logistical support that can be provided to these organizations to increase operational efficiencies in conjunction with the Department of Public Safety. Review and assess the inventory of these agencies. Make appropriate recommendations. (Joint charge with Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety) | |
| 2. | Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation. | |
| 3. | Examine programs and funding streams connected to services that improve mental health outcomes for servicemen and women suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). | |
| 4. | Evaluate the needs of veterans and their families as they return to civilian life, including access to employment, education, housing, counseling, and mental health services. Make recommendations to ensure coordination between state agencies to create a positive environment for veterans transitioning back into communities across the state. | |
| Committee: | Senate Finance | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Subjects: | Bail | Border security | Coronavirus | Economy | Employees Retirement System of Texas | Federal funds | Harris County | Homestead exemptions | Hospitals | Inflation | Investment of public funds | Long-term care | Medicaid | Mental health services | Nursing homes | Operation Lone Star (Border security) | Property tax exemptions | Property taxes | Public retirement systems | Recidivism | Retirees | Russia | School finance | State employee salaries | State employee turnover | Tax and expenditure limits | Tax revenue | Teacher Retirement System of Texas | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.87 F49 | |
| Session: | 87th R.S. (2021) | |
| Online version: | View report [108 pages File size: 4,001 kb] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Federal Funds: Report on the state use of federal COVID-19 relief funds provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, the American Rescue Plan Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts, and similar federal legislation. Examine local use of federal relief funding, including funding provided to school districts through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. Evaluate the overall fiscal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on state agencies, including costs incurred due to federal mandates. Identify barriers to the effective utilization of funds and make recommendations on the expenditure of unappropriated funds. In addition, evaluate and report on the spending by state agencies that have been utilizing "one-time" federal funding (temporary enhancements, e.g. FMAP and ESSER) sources, where federal funding will likely be significantly reduced in future biennia. | |
| 2. | Property Tax Relief: Examine and recommend ways to reduce Texans' property tax burden. Review and report on proposals to use or dedicate state revenues in excess of the state spending limit to eliminate the school district maintenance and operations property tax. | |
| 3. | Inflation: Review and report on the effect inflation is having on the business community and state government, including state salaries, retiree benefits, the state economy, and cost of state services. | |
| 4. | Inflation: Review and report on the impact of inflation on units of local governments' revenue collections and property taxpayers' tax bills, including the homestead exemption. | |
| 5. | Tax Exemptions: Examine Texans' current tax exemptions and report on whether adjustments are merited because of inflation or any other factors. | |
| 6. | Russia Divestiture: Examine and report on options for state asset owners to divest their positions in companies that invest in the Russian Federation. | |
| 7. | State Pension Reforms: Monitor the implementation of recent statewide pension reforms to the Employees Retirement System of Texas and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. | |
| 8. | Bail Bond Reform: Monitor the implementation of recent bail bond reform legislation along with its economic impact on the judicial and correctional system. Assess any barriers to implementation, the law’s effect on pretrial release and jail populations, and ways to further promote public safety and efficiency. | |
| 9. | Operation Lone Star: Monitor appropriations and spending supporting Operation Lone Star. Evaluate and report on the effectiveness of spending to secure the southern border. Identify and report on resources needed to ensure support for the State National Guard, as well as overall resources necessary for border security for future legislative consideration. | |
| 10. | Long-term Care Funding: Examine state investments in the long-term nursing home care system. Study nursing facility funding issues and the impact of the pandemic on capacity and delivery of care. Explore nursing facility quality metrics and recommend strategies to improve the sustainability of the long-term care workforce. | |
| 11. | Medicaid: Monitor the financial impact of federal decision-making affecting supplemental Medicaid funding for Texas hospitals and health care systems, including negotiations between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Texas Medicaid agency regarding the state's 1115 Medicaid waiver and other federal proposals reducing supplemental funding streams for Texas. | |
| 12. | Mental Health Delivery: Examine the state mental health service delivery system. Study the state's Comprehensive Plan for State-Funded Inpatient Mental Health Services and the Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan and evaluate the existing state investments in mental health services and state hospital capacity. Review current forensic and civil mental health service waitlists, and recommend ways to improve coordination and outcomes to reduce waitlists. Explore and report on options for additional mental health service capacity, including building state hospitals in the Panhandle and Rio Grande Valley areas. | |
| Committee: | House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Subjects: | Appellate courts | Border issues | Court congestion | Drug courts | Family law courts | Guardianship | Juries | Operation Lone Star (Border security) | Specialty courts | Veterans courts | | |
| Library Call Number: | ||
| Session: | 87th R.S. (2021) | |
| Online version: | View report [49 pages File size: 3,204 kb] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Examine current caseloads and capacity issues for courts handling matters related to the Texas-Mexico border. Evaluate the preparedness of the court system to handle increases in caseloads that may result from the border crisis response and make recommendations to ensure the continued fair and efficient administration of justice in the state in addressing any increased caseloads. (Joint charge with Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues) | |
| 2. | Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation. | |
| 3. | Study potential solutions to improve the judicial efficiency of the state courts of appeals by analyzing caseloads and making appropriate recommendations. | |
| 4. | Evaluate the use and types of guardianships in Texas and the effect of guardianship on individual rights. Study the financial costs to families related to attaining and maintaining guardianship and compare costs to those associated with guardianship alternatives, such as supported decision-making. | |
| 5. | Study the operations of specialty courts. Determine whether additional specialty courts should be considered to address needs within specific populations. Review specialty court methods and best practices that have been implemented for specialty courts in other states, including their impact on judicial efficiency. | |
| 6. | Study state laws and procedures relating to jury service eligibility, including a review of existing jury exemptions, and make recommendations to ensure the privilege, right, and duty of jury service is protected and promoted. | |
| Committee: | House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Subjects: | Border issues | Child support | Coronavirus | Court congestion | Family violence | Federal funds | Juvenile detention facilities | Juvenile Justice Department, Texas | Juvenile justice system | Operation Lone Star (Border security) | Probation | Protective orders | Unaccompanied minors | Undocumented immigrants | | |
| Library Call Number: | ||
| Session: | 87th R.S. (2021) | |
| Online version: | View report [42 pages File size: 2,822 kb] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Monitor the impact of children, including unaccompanied minors, crossing the Texas-Mexico border on the juvenile justice system, including gang violence. Identify any particularized services that children, including unaccompanied minors, will need and assess the costs of providing these services. | |
| 2. | Examine current caseloads and capacity issues for courts handling matters related to the Texas-Mexico border. Evaluate the preparedness of the court system to handle increases in caseloads that may result from the border crisis response and make recommendations to ensure the continued fair and efficient administration of justice in the state in addressing any increased caseloads. (Joint charge with Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence) | |
| 3. | Review the ongoing development of federal laws, rules, and regulations associated with the distribution of the federal pandemic recovery funds, including reporting requirements, and make recommendations to the House Committee on Appropriations for use of the funds to respond to the Texas-Mexico border crisis. | |
| 4. | Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
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| 5. | Complete study of assigned charges related to the Texas-Mexico border issued in June 2021. | |
| 6. | Examine obstacles to the reporting of domestic violence and how these obstacles contribute to the difficulty in obtaining and enforcing a protective order. Examine new technologies that could facilitate domestic violence reporting without putting victims at risk of further violence and harm. | |
| 7. | Explore ways to modernize the juvenile justice system for youth on probation and incarcerated youth. Review statewide resource allocation, including available staffing, and identify potential geographic limitations. Investigate the best practices of smaller specialized facilities for youth committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department while leveraging the Department's current facilities and staff. Analyze the current gaps in county-level services and funding and make recommendations to address those gaps. | |
| 8. | Examine workforce issues at state and local juvenile correctional facilities and consider the state's incentives to recruit quality staff. Consider the geographic areas where specialty providers are concentrated and the viability of opening specialized facilities for the state's youth with the highest therapeutic need to relieve the state's current rural facilities struggling with staffing. Consider consistent investments the state can make in local probation to encourage their facilities to divert youth from the juvenile justice system. | |
| 9. | Study how child support is calculated and administered in Texas and how the Texas method compares to other states' plans for calculating child support, including identifying modern trends across the country for calculating child support. Consider how alternative methods for calculating child support affect each parents' share of responsibility for child support, health care, childcare, and other matters in other jurisdictions compared to Texas. | |
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