Shift funding priorities

General Revenue

SB1 by Chairman Ogden / HB1 by Chairman Pitts, the budget bills contain significant additional funding, approximately $60 million, for community-based alternatives to incarceration for the first time in over ten years. In addition, a budget rider says that incarceration dollars that are saved by effective alternatives will be channeled back into more alternatives to incarceration.

HB1 and SB1 passed with the new probation and parole funding.

Drug Court Funding

HB2193 by Chairman Madden, the bill that strengthens probation, also increases funding for local drug courts and related programs.

HB2193 passed the House and Senate, but Governor Perry vetoed the bill.

Federal Byrne Grant Funds

HB1239 by Chairman Hodge and Chairman Keel would abolish a certain type of rogue drug task force, and would free up the federal Byrne grant funds ($22.7 million for Texas next year) that are currently spent on these drug task forces to possibly be spent on drug courts and treatment programs.

HB1239 passed and has been signed by the Governor. It is law.

Revenue from Telephone Systems

HB574 by Haggerty, HB1365 by R. Allen, HB1530 by Hodge would allow telephones to be installed in prison. Telephones drastically improve security inside prisons, permit the inmate to keep a connection with family and community, and generate large amounts of revenue. Listen to children talk to their incarcerated parents, watch the hearing on these bills!

These bills did not pass this session, but look for them in 2007!