HBA-CMT S.B. 636 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 636
By: Armbrister
Corrections
4/8/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas prisoners with a serious mental illness are not receiving
adequate treatment, leading to longer prison time served, mental
deterioration, and at the end of their sentences the release of candidates
who are poorly suited for reintegration into society.  Senate Bill 636
requires an analysis to be conducted for the potential use of the Texas
Medication Algorithm project in the treatment of person with mental illness
who are in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  

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. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 636 requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) no
later than May 1, 2002 to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the potential
use of the Texas Medication Algorithm Project as developed by the Texas
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR) to treat persons
with mental illness in the custody of TDCJ.  The bill requires the Texas
Youth Commission (commission) no later than May 1, 2002 to review the
benefits of the potential use of the Children's Medication Algorithm
Project as developed by the MHMR to treat children with mental illnesses.
The bill requires the Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Impairments in
conjunction with the Criminal Justice Policy Council to oversee the
analysis conducted by TDCJ and the review conducted by the commission and
report to the legislature on the results of the analysis and review by
December 1, 2002. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.