AUSTIN --  After more than two years of tackling the myriad problems plaguing the Texas Youth Commission, Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa passed his sweeping legislation Friday to reform the troubled commission.

            After several days of negotiations in conference committee between the House and Senate, SB 103 passed both the Senate and the House and now awaits the Governor's signature. 

            "Overall, the negotiations made SB 103 a better bill for the state and the people of Texas," Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa said. "It's been a long road, and Representative Madden was a pleasure to work with in serving Texas' families. With the passage of this bill today, I am confident that the children in the state's care will receive the rehabilitation they need, and that the people of Texas will have a Commission worthy of them."

            Senator Hinojosa began looking into the juvenile justice system two years ago when riots broke out at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center in Edinburg, Hidalgo County. Hinojosa pre-filed his comprehensive reform legislation last year and has continued to work with stakeholders to rebuild the troubled commission after the TYC scandal erupted.         

            Senator Hinojosa’s bill calls for improved security by requiring TYC guards to undergo at least 300 hours of training before being assigned to guard duty, and it caps the guard-to-youth ratio at no more than 12 to 1 to maintain order and safety.  It also requires fingerprint and national criminal history checks for employees, volunteers, and advocates working within TYC facilities.

            SB 103 also creates a Parents' Bill of Rights to guarantee swift and accurate access to information about caseworkers’ duties and the agency’s grievance policies.
            In addition, Senator Hinojosa’s reforms call for the establishment of a panel within TYC to review sentencing extensions, thus bringing strict accountability to the process. His bill features structural improvements to TYC’s governing board and strengthens the agency’s emphasis on community rehabilitation instead of automatic incarceration.
             Senator Hinojosa’s legislation ends the practice of housing 10- or 11-year-olds with 19- or 20-year-olds; creates an authority of law-enforcement trained personnel within an Inspector General’s Office to ensure law and order in TYC facilities; and authorizes child advocacy groups to visit facilities and work with youth.

            And to ensure that these and other improvements are properly implemented, extensive reporting measures were put into place so that parents and the public can access information regarding investigations, extensions of youth's sentences, and prosecutions of crimes occurring within TYC.  The bill also requires TYC develop a plan to move towards acquiring national accreditation of their facilities.

            "SB 103 will make tremendous changes to the Texas Youth Commission, and we will continue to work with the agency and evaluate its progress through the Sunset Commission.  We have appropriated $525 million for the TYC to give them the necessary resources to implement the SB 103 reforms. The Texas Legislature has made improving this agency a top priority, and we expect success."