House Bill No. 1515 seeks to improve the operations and effectiveness of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, along with related entities such as the Board of Pardons and Paroles. A significant change in the bill is the replacement of the term "inmates" with "students" in the Education Code, highlighting a shift towards educational goals for individuals in confinement. The bill emphasizes reducing recidivism and improving employment outcomes by mandating the development of career and technical education programs tailored for individuals with felony convictions. It also requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to maintain an inventory of active programs and evaluate their effectiveness, while establishing a long-term facilities and staffing plan to address capacity and staffing challenges. Additionally, the sunset provision for the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is extended to September 1, 2037.

The bill further amends the Government Code to enhance the management of correctional facilities and the training of committees and boards related to parole and inmate supervision. It introduces new training requirements for board members and parole commissioners, including the creation of training manuals and guidelines for maximum caseloads for parole officers. The bill mandates a review of current parole supervision practices and the submission of a report by September 1, 2026, while also streamlining the legal framework by repealing several existing provisions. Overall, House Bill No. 1515 aims to enhance the accountability, training, and operational efficiency of the correctional and parole systems in Texas, with an effective date set for September 1, 2025.

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 (Education Code 19, Government Code 574, Health and Safety Code 614, Government Code 492, Government Code 501, Government Code 499, Government Code 497, Government Code 508)