Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and to the functions of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee, the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments, and the Windham School District.

Contracts

The law explicitly directs TDCJ to evaluate and renegotiate contracts for therapeutic and rehabilitation services.

• Action: Vendors must transition from "fee-for-service" models to "outcomes-based" models. If your program cannot demonstrate a statistical reduction in recidivism or successful reentry, your contract is at statutory risk of termination or restructuring.
• MOUs: Educational institutions must amend Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to align with new tuition reimbursement structures.

Hiring/Training

• Vocational Providers: Windham School District and third-party vocational partners must implement intake procedures that screen students against state licensing barriers. You cannot enroll an offender in a trade program (e.g., HVAC, nursing) if their criminal history legally bars them from licensure, without providing a specific written disclosure.
• Medical Staff: Physicians involved in Medically Recommended Intensive Supervision (MRIS) must be trained to write reports in "plain language." Clinical jargon is now a compliance failure.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Medical Reports: MRIS reports must now explicitly describe how a medical condition affects "cognitive and physical abilities" in non-medical terms.
• Program Inventory: TDCJ is required to maintain a comprehensive inventory of program effectiveness. Vendors must be prepared to submit raw performance data to the agency to justify their inclusion in this inventory.

Fees & Costs

• Tuition Reimbursement: The law creates a Postsecondary Education Reimbursement Program. TDCJ will pay tuition upfront, but the statute requires the inmate to reimburse the Department as a condition of parole.
• Impact: Universities and colleges must adjust billing workflows to ensure costs are accurately captured and transmitted to the Parole Division for collection.