Message from TYC Executive Commissioner Cherie Townsend
I am very happy to be able share with you that the Senate-House conference committee on appropriations has added a 3.5% salary increase for non-JCO positions in the field for both FY 2010 and FY 2011. This will provide parity with the salary increases adopted for TDCJ. In conjunction with the JCO raise that I reported earlier this week, these legislative actions recognize the extraordinary work of everyone who provides services directly and indirectly to youth and families in TYC facilities and in the field. The conference committee is scheduled to vote on the entire conference committee budget next Tuesday. It will then go to the Senate and to the House. The final decision point is the Governor.
The Committee Substitute for HB 3689 (Sunset Bill) passed favorably out of the Senate Government Organization Committee yesterday. It is expected to be on the Senate calendar this weekend. The Senate committee substitute has the following key changes:
- maintains the TYC and TJPC as separate agencies with their own boards but without a coordinating council
- maintains current law regarding TYC board composition
- requires the current statutory joint biennial strategic plan by TYC and TJPC
- identifies the areas to be represented by the appointees of the planning group and expands the elements of the plan and
- requires TYC to undergo a Sunset review in 2011
We can expect that since there are differences between HB 3689 and the Senate's committee substitute for this bill that a conference committee will be named to work out the differences between the bills.
Finally, yesterday, the Senate confirmed my nomination as executive commissioner. I am excited to have the opportunity to continue to lead TYC and to work with each of you toward the accomplishment of our mission.
As always, I will keep you updated as new information becomes available.
Cheryln "Cherie" K. Townsend
Executive Commissioner