TYC Deal Reached (& Whatever Happened To The JSC?)

At long last, some more movement on the TYC:

Lawmakers reached a compromise Wednesday on the reform bill for the embattled Texas Youth Commission, agreeing that the agency would be run by a governor-appointed commissioner and an advisory panel for at least the next two years.

Starting in 2009, the agency’s leadership structure would return to its current form – an executive director and a board of directors, said Jerry Madden, chairman of the House Corrections Committee. But he said the agency is also up for a Sunset review in 2009, and the review could include recommendations to keep the commissioner in place longer.

“We thought that right now, because of the changes taking place at the TYC … we needed a structure that could take quick action,” Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa said.

It’s good Sunset review will come around the time of the next session, because I personally don’t like the idea of one person heading up the TYC answering only to the governor. It seems like a structure rife for problems and cover-ups.

Second, whatever happened to the Joint Select Committee on the Management & Operation of the Texas Youth Commission. As best as I can tell, they last met in early May and have no other meetings scheduled.

That’s understandable given the pace of the session at this point, but I believe the people of Texas expected some more fireworks out of this committee.

Given the power it was vested with, I’m quite surprised we have not seen any more drama than we have. I fully expected the JSC to be getting more press.  Perhaps, after session, we will see more.

This committee is uniquely positioned to have a significant impact on the investigation of this scandal and bringing a lot to light about what has happened and what should have happened. Hopefully, before it’s over, we’ll see more of that.