HBA-EVB S.B. 1577 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1577
By: West
Corrections
4/26/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, prison gang membership is increasing, and the number of inmates
on parole or mandatory supervision who are members of prison gangs will
likely continue to increase.  Closer monitoring by the pardons and paroles
division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) of parolees who
are known members of prison gangs, criminal street gangs, or security
threat groups, may enable TDCJ to better evaluate indicators of potential
criminal activity.  S.B. 1577 establishes specialized gang awareness
training for parole officers who supervise gang members released from TDCJ
on parole or mandatory supervision. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 508, Government Code, by adding
Section 508.1141, as follows: 

Sec. 508.1141. SPECIALIZED TRAINING: GANG MEMBERS. Requires the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to develop and provide specialized
training for parole officers supervising releasees previously identified by
TDCJ as being members of prison gangs, criminal street gangs, or security
threat groups. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.