H.B. No. 1515 seeks to improve the operations and oversight of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and related entities, including the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Windham School District. The bill introduces several amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Education Code, focusing on enhancing the criminal justice information system, educational programs for incarcerated individuals, and inter-agency coordination. Key changes include redefining educational goals for the Windham School District to prioritize "students" over "inmates," establishing a postsecondary education advisory board, and emphasizing the role of the state auditor in examining the criminal justice information system. The bill also mandates the development of a comprehensive inventory of active programs and requires annual reports on program evaluations to promote transparency and accountability.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Government Code to update terminology and enhance the structure of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Notable changes include the establishment of the Office of the Inspector General as an independent agency, the requirement for the department to notify the board when inmate populations reach critical levels, and the introduction of a salary career ladder for parole officers. The bill also emphasizes the need for evidence-based treatment plans for inmates, mandates collaboration between agencies for continuity of care, and requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Windham School District to develop a strategic plan for rehabilitation and reentry programs. Overall, H.B. No. 1515 aims to enhance the effectiveness of Texas's criminal justice and educational systems, focusing on rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society.

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, Government Code 497, Government Code 492, Government Code 508, Health and Safety Code 614, Government Code 574, Education Code 19, Government Code 501)
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 497, Government Code 507, Government Code 508, Education Code 19, Government Code 501, Government Code 811, Government Code 499, Government Code 498, Government Code 661, Government Code 511, Government Code 659, Government Code 492, Health and Safety Code 614, Government Code 493, Government Code 574, Government Code 491, Health and Safety Code 841, Labor Code 306, Government Code 509)