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, improving educational programs for incarcerated individuals, and fostering better coordination among state agencies. Key changes include replacing the term "appointed" with "commissioned" for certain officers, redefining the goals of the Windham School District to emphasize career and technical education, and establishing a postsecondary education advisory board to align educational offerings with job market needs.

The bill also amends various sections of the Government Code to enhance the operational framework of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, including the establishment of the Office of the Inspector General as an independent agency and the requirement for the department to prepare a 10-year plan for facility needs. It mandates the collection and analysis of data related to program effectiveness and introduces new training requirements for board members and parole commissioners. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the need for individual treatment plans for inmates and establishes a postsecondary education reimbursement program for eligible inmates. Overall, H.B. No. 1515 aims to improve accountability, transparency, and rehabilitation efforts within the Texas criminal justice system, with an effective date of 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 (Government Code 497, Government Code 508, Government Code 499, Education Code 19, Government Code 501, Health and Safety Code 614, Government Code 492, 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 507, Government Code 498, Government Code 492, Government Code 574, Government Code 499, Government Code 509, Labor Code 306, Health and Safety Code 614, Government Code 493, Government Code 811, Government Code 511, Education Code 19, Government Code 508, Government Code 497, Government Code 491, Government Code 661, Government Code 501, Health and Safety Code 841, Government Code 659)