H.B. No. 1515 seeks to improve the operations and oversight of Texas criminal justice entities, including the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The bill introduces amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Education Code, focusing on enhancing the accuracy of criminal justice information systems and expanding educational programs for incarcerated individuals. A significant change includes replacing references to "council" with "state auditor" for evaluations of the criminal justice information system, ensuring accountability. The bill also emphasizes career and technical education to reduce recidivism and improve post-release employment outcomes, mandating tailored educational programs and the establishment of a postsecondary education advisory board.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Government Code to redefine roles within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, including the establishment of the Office of the Inspector General as an independent agency for investigating offenses by department employees and inmates. It mandates the department to prepare a long-term facilities plan and updates definitions related to inmate management. The bill also introduces new training requirements for board members and parole commissioners, emphasizing understanding laws related to open meetings and ethics. Overall, the amendments aim to enhance the management, oversight, and rehabilitation of inmates, ensuring a more effective and accountable criminal justice system in Texas.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 19.003, Education Code 19.004, Education Code 19.0041, Education Code 19.0042, Education Code 19.010, Education Code 19.011, Government Code 492.002, Government Code 492.0031, Government Code 492.012, Government Code 497.022, Government Code 499.101, Government Code 499.102, Government Code 501.009, Government Code 501.017, Government Code 501.054, Government Code 501.057, Government Code 574.034, Government Code 501.092, Government Code 501.138, Government Code 501.140, Government Code 508.036, Government Code 508.0362, Government Code 508.041, Government Code 508.1131, Government Code 508.1142, Government Code 508.1445, Government Code 508.146, Government Code 508.152, Health and Safety Code 614.009 (Government Code 499, Education Code 19, Health and Safety Code 614, Government Code 497, Government Code 501, Government Code 492, Government Code 508, Government Code 574)
House Committee Report: Education Code 19.003, Education Code 19.004, Education Code 19.0041, Education Code 19.0042, Education Code 19.010, Education Code 19.011, Government Code 491.001, Government Code 492.002, Government Code 492.0031, Government Code 492.012, Government Code 492.013, Government Code 493.002, Government Code 493.0021, Government Code 493.004, Government Code 493.005, Government Code 493.0052, Government Code 493.0053, Government Code 493.0083, Government Code 493.009, Government Code 493.016, Government Code 493.019, Government Code 497.022, Government Code 497.094, Government Code 497.112, Government Code 498.001, Government Code 499.001, Government Code 499.002, Government Code 499.0021, Government Code 499.003, Government Code 499.004, Government Code 499.022, Government Code 499.025, Government Code 499.026, Government Code 499.101, Government Code 499.102, Government Code 499.104, Government Code 499.105, Government Code 499.108, Government Code 499.109, Government Code 499.156, Government Code 501.002, Government Code 501.009, Government Code 501.015, Government Code 501.017, Government Code 501.054, Government Code 501.055, Government Code 501.057, Government Code 574.034, Government Code 501.092, Government Code 501.093, Government Code 501.095, Government Code 501.138, Government Code 501.140, Government Code 507.001, Government Code 507.002, Government Code 507.006, Government Code 507.022, Government Code 507.023, Government Code 507.024, Government Code 507.025, Government Code 507.029, Government Code 507.031, Government Code 507.033, Government Code 508.001, Government Code 508.0362, Government Code 508.041, Government Code 508.113, Government Code 508.1131, Government Code 508.1142, Government Code 508.117, Government Code 508.146, Government Code 508.152, Government Code 508.324, Government Code 509.004, Government Code 509.005, Government Code 511.017, Government Code 659.015, Government Code 661.152, Government Code 811.001, Health and Safety Code 614.002, Health and Safety Code 614.009, Health and Safety Code 614.013, Health and Safety Code 614.014, Health and Safety Code 614.015, Health and Safety Code 614.017, Health and Safety Code 614.018, Health and Safety Code 841.005, Labor Code 306.007 (Government Code 499, Government Code 507, Government Code 811, Government Code 501, Government Code 574, Health and Safety Code 614, Government Code 659, Government Code 661, Government Code 509, Health and Safety Code 841, Labor Code 306, Government Code 491, Government Code 498, Government Code 511, Government Code 493, Government Code 508, Education Code 19, Government Code 497, Government Code 492)