Sec. 493.0084. INVENTORY AND EVALUATION OF ACTIVE PROGRAMS. (a) The department shall develop and maintain a comprehensive inventory of active programs and activities offered in department facilities that includes the following information for each program: (1) program goals; (2) program capacity; and (3) facilities where the program is offered. (b) The department shall make the inventory available to the public on the department's Internet website and continuously update the inventory. (c) The department shall collect and analyze data for the programs described by Subsection (a) to provide oversight of the programs and to improve program offerings. (d) In carrying out the department's duties under Subsection (c), the department shall: (1) for programs claiming rehabilitative or reentry effects: (A) collect results-based performance data; (B) work with qualified internal or external researchers to develop criteria to evaluate the programs; and (C) use the criteria developed under Paragraph (B) to evaluate the programs, including the data described by Paragraph (A); (2) create a separate correctional elective programs and activities category for non-evidence-based and non-evidence-informed programs and develop criteria to evaluate the programs; (3) collect and analyze relevant data for program participants in programs claiming rehabilitative or reentry effects, such as: (A) institutional disciplinary violations; (B) subsequent arrests; (C) subsequent convictions or confinements; (D) employment obtained following release; and (E) cost of confinement; and (4) use the data described by Subdivision (3) to produce and compare recidivism rates and other correctional impact trends and to make changes to the programs as needed. (e) The department may make structural or programmatic adjustments to improve program performance in response to a program evaluation under this section indicating poor program performance. (f) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the department shall submit a report on the department's analysis of programs described by Subsection (a) to the board, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over the department. (g) The department may enter into a memorandum of understanding with other entities, including the Texas Workforce Commission, the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System, the Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, other regulatory entities, and institutions of higher education, to obtain and share data necessary to evaluate programs under this section.
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