Interim Charge #1: Monitor the performance of state agencies and institutions, including operating budgets, plans to carry out legislative initiatives, caseload projections, performance measure attainment, implementation of all rider provisions, and any other matter affecting the fiscal condition of the agencies and the state.With the latest estimates suggesting the state may be $21 billion short next biennium, these discussions may turn out to be more substantive than the usual pre-session gabfests over corrections budgets.
Interim Charge #11: Examine implementation of the diversion pilot programs, juvenile case management system, and other policy and funding initiatives to determine whether the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission and the Texas Youth Commission have adhered to legislative directive in implementing these programs, and the impact of these programs on commitments at the Texas Youth Commission. (Joint Interim Charge with House Committee on Corrections)
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Budget shortfall will frame discussion at next week's Appropriations hearing
Just fyi: A hearing next Wednesday (Sept. 29) of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee of House Appropriations will discuss two interim charges that may interest Grits readers:
Please forgive the ignorance... but, what exactly will they be reviewing when they consider "implementation of all rider provisions?"
ReplyDeleteRiders are basically amendments to the budget made on the floor of one or the other chamber of the Lege as opposed to coming out of the relevant committee process. Sometimes they may move money around or just place restrictions on how certain expenditures may be used.
ReplyDeleteAny chance the DRP will get any attention?
ReplyDeletePerhaps not at this hearing, Randy, but maybe. FWIW, I've lately heard several legislators suggest the program's complete dissolution next year, including some who supported the program in the past and have never been critical of it until recently. It'll denfinitely be on the table for discussion next year whether or not it's discussed at the hearing. Grits readers could help that process by taking the time now to educate their own state reps and senators on the topic and speaking to local judges and other officials to encourage them to back efforts to repeal or scale back the DRP.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone wakes up this session and sees that TYC's problems aren't getting better. Another federal lawsuit, releasing kids who are coming out much worse than they came in and committing more serious crimes in the community, an administration that is self-serving and without direction, and so on.... It's just time to rid the taxpayers of this waste and develop an agency with competent leaders because this group isn't getting it done. It all starts at the top.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest problems have always been at the top of TYC. When so many were allowed to escape prosecution, it just indorsed more bad behavior and leadership from TYC. The lege should be whipped for allowing TYC to stay in operation. Anyone with over five years with TYC should be fired.
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