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.