Relating to allowing certain defendants to successfully complete education at a substance abuse treatment facility in lieu of attending an education program; changing required conditions of community supervision for certain defendants.

SB 1070 would update the code to remove the abolished agency of the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse from part of the Texas code. This bill would replace that commission’s responsibilities with other government authorities capable of handling the duties that were previously assigned to a now defunct commission.

Currently, people convicted of certain intoxication and alcohol related offenses and sentenced to community supervision must fulfill a rehabilitation education requirement as a condition of community service. This legislation would expand the types of rehabilitative education programs a judge would be able to assign to fulfill this requirement.

The bill would also allow certain individuals who must fulfill an education requirement to have their drivers license reinstated to be able to substitute an equivalent program at a residential treatment facility, allowing them to have their license reinstated without having to go through an extra educational program.

5/22/2015 update:

No changes have been made to this bill in House committee. The second chamber sponsor is Rep. Joe Moody.

First chamber recommendation: 

SB 1070 would expand the options for fulfilling a rehabilitative education requirement related to a driving while intoxicated (DWI) conviction and subsequent reinstatement of a drivers license. This supports personal responsibility and individual liberty. We support SB 1070.