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.