Texas Youth Commission reform just about a done deal

The Texas Youth Commission overhaul bill that became one of the major issues of the 2007 legislative session is on its way to becoming law.

On Friday the Texas House approved the final version of Senate Bill 103, which will become law immediately if Gov. Rick Perry signs it as expected.

The measure revamps the management structure of the scandal-plagued state juvenile corrections agency, setting up a single, governor-appointed commissioner to oversee it for the next two years. Unless the Legislature decides differently next session, a seven-member board with an executive director would then take over on Sept. 1, 2009.

Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, the primary author of the bill, said the TYC will have $525 million to put into place the reforms, which are intended to address issues that led to the abuse of inmates.

“The Texas Legislature has made improving this agency a top priority, and we expect success,” Hinojosa said.

Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Richardson, the House sponsor, said after the measure cleared the House that he was glad to have the reforms on the way to the governor’s desk.

“I think it’s great work,” Madden said after it cleared the House unanimously. “I think it makes major improvements to the Youth Commission.”

Inmate abuse in the Rio Grande Valley surfaced in October 2004 at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center in Edinburg. Boys in the youth prison there flooded dorms, and some of the officers the Texas Youth Commission sent there to bring order instead abused boys.

Since then, the U.S. Department of Justice has said Evins violates the U.S. Constitution; three Evins superintendents have quit or been fired; and TYC leadership has resigned under reports of widespread mismanagement and sexual and physical abuse in the agency.

The scandal swept the Legislature into a fury over the last three months. The final product of lawmakers’ reform efforts would require more oversight, more training of guards, and possibly moving facilities closer to urban areas.

Cancer funds

It’s up to you, now. The Legislature has decided to ask voters in November whether to spend $3 billion in bond revenue over the next 10 years on cancer research and prevention in the hope a cure for cancer would come from Texas.

Some lawmakers said they were worried the state would end up paying too much in interest on the bonds, but in the end, most voted for cancer research.