Bill Analysis
This bill would require individuals who apply to participate in a program designed to provide alternative housing for five or more unrelated releasees to provide notice to any type of school or daycare within 1,000 feet of the proposed alternative housing location. If this bill passes, each application submitted would have to include a list of schools that the applicant notified.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This bill could have an adverse effect on Texas's efforts to establish and maintain group home residencies. Someone who voluntarily operates a group home could be forced to hire a surveyor to determine if they are within 1,000 feet of any school or daycare facility. Under current law, even if someone has been granted parole, they are not released unless they have a plan for housing. The unintended consequences of this bill may result in a shortage of group homes, and as a result may require parolees to needlessly stay incarcerated unit they are able to find another living arrangement. In 2014 parole cost $4.04 per day compared to $54.89 per day per prison inmate. For this bill's role in undermining the efforts to get individuals out of prison and onto parole, we oppose HB 3697.
