10 DECEMBER 2001 - Voice For The Defense Online

D
wing the interim, certain issues we designated by he leaders of the two chan~be~s
;ls being iu~po~tant to
the Sfate at that time. lnterin~ slotlies are vital to tile lcgislatlve process. A thoro~cgi~ review of tile issues
prepare state lawmakers for the cl~dlenges that await them in the ne\t regulm session.
Budget ovetsigl~t, teacl~er shorhges, insolance coverage of touc mold, u~rban qml, and publc safety are
among Le issues included in the inte~itn ci~arges that Lieutenant Gownor Bill Ralilf znd House Speaker Pete
I.aney released for the standing antl select committees. The following is a list of the interi~n charges for the cornnllttees
studying crinunal justice issues.
The House Colnn~ittee on Corrections is clwged to:
1. Sh~dy conunmllty snpelrision ccasloods, the effect of officer-to-offender mtios and the impact of
caseload rcdnctions on rcvocntions and incarceration costs to the state.
2. Shdythe qualily and mnilabihty of residential facilities and the potential cost savings of enhanced residential
sentenciug alternatives to long-term incwcel%ion
3. Review the fees assessed on adult oNende~s and tl~eir impacts on community supelllsiol~ and parole.
Consider offenders' abil~ties to pay supc~visio~~ fees and any impact on revocatio~~s of parole.
4. Study ll~e delke~y of healtlsare within the Tew pplison s)stem, including the nun~ber and types of
healtheare practitioners i~ecded, the recruitment and ~ctentior~ of tl~ose practitionels, ~nanagement of
cl~ronicl~seases, and the use of telemed~cine and other lecl~oologies
5. Actively monitor the s~gencies under tile committee's 0\~1rsig11t jurisdiction. Specifically monitor the
implementation of staffi~g and tlalning progwns at the Terns Department of Criminal Justice ant1 their
eNects on tile sdey of both inn~ates aed std.
Tlte House Conunittee on Cri~~~ii~al Ju'isprt~dence is charged to:
1. Review cl~anges is fede~alaws and law enforcemeut procedures, as well as reconm~endat~oas from state
and natio~lal age~~cics c11;uged with homela~~d protection, to assess tile need for cl~anges in shte c~iminal
law to protect life and property nod to detect, interdict antl respond to :~c$ of terrorism.
2. Comider wa)s to cooperate vith hiesican sfates to reduce iutemational dmg t~xfkking.
Keith Hn~tpton
CAPITOL
CORNER
3. Re\.iew the statuto~ylaw governing the use of devices ~OWII as "eight-liners" and soggesT\mys to eliminate
ambiguity about tile legality of thelr possession and use
4. Study trends and methods involvcd in identity theft in 'resas. Suggest NR)S to reduce his type of uime
5. Consider the inanner in wl1ic11 sewd assaults arc reported in Texas, and speciOcdly address the u7ide
discrepancy behveen stetistics reported in the Uniform Crime Report and cstlmates of other groups,
suc11 ;ls the Natio~~al Crime \'ictims Research and Treatme~lt Center
Tile House Con~n~ittee
Jnvenile Jwtice all11 Fwiily lsslles is charged to:
1. Exanme tile roles of an xttorney ad litem and guardian ad litem ill ccrtflin suits affecting the pnrentcluld
~elationslup.
2. Renew d~sposition patterns, uuifoln~ity of repolling, and evaluitt~on of jmenile offense rases ululer thc
p~ogrcssi\~e sanctions guidelines.
3. hnmioc the role of gestational agrce~uents and their potential impact 011 Texas Panily h\\:
4. Re!ic\v stale and lod school district ~NOIS to dd
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