IDD Advisory Committee

In 2021, HB 2831 of the 87th Legislature required the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) to establish a Committee to advise the Commission on issues related to inmates with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The committee members serve staggered six-year terms, with the terms of three or four members expiring January 31 of each odd-numbered year. The advisory committee consists of 13 members appointed by the TCJS presiding officer with the commission’s approval.

The advisory committee gathers and reviews data regarding the confinement in county jails of persons with IDD and provides recommendations and guidelines to sheriffs and counties regarding the confinement of persons with IDD.

Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the advisory committee submits a report that includes recommendations for legislative or other action related to the confinement of persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities in county jails to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over the commission.
The committee monitors the county jail intake processes to assess each county jail’s ability to properly identify persons with IDD and assist county jails in improving the intake processes regarding persons with IDD.
Not later than December 1, 2022, the committee will assist TCJS to prepare and submit a report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over the commission, and each sheriff that includes:

A discussion of any deficiencies in the intake processes that have been identified by the commission; and
Recommendations to improve county jail practices regarding identifying persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The committee assisted the Texas Commission on Law Enfor

The committee assisted the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and TCJS to jointly develop by 1/1/22 a program for county jailers of at least four hours of education and training on interacting with county jail inmates with IDD, including techniques to assess a person for an IDD.