News Room

Perry TYC order questioned
March 20, 2007

A House committee looking into allegations of rampant abuse in youth prisons asked the attorney general's office on Monday to determine whether Gov. Rick Perry had the authority to appoint a special master for the Texas Youth Commission.

Written by Staff, Dallas Morning News

Jay_kimbrough_with_gov

Jay Kimbrough (left) with Gov. Rick Perry and Major Gen. Wayne Marty of the Texas National Guard at Camp Mabry in Austin.

AUSTIN – A House committee looking into allegations of rampant abuse in youth prisons asked the attorney general's office on Monday to determine whether Gov. Rick Perry had the authority to appoint a special master for the Texas Youth Commission.

Lawmakers wanted Mr. Perry to appoint a conservator to overhaul the troubled agency.

Instead, he appointed special master Jay Kimbrough to investigate the problems and directed the commission's six-person board to hire acting executive director Ed Owens to restructure the agency.

The problem, according to some members of the House corrections committee, is that a conservator's powers and duties are outlined in state law and a special master's aren't. Rep. Jim Dunnam said that discrepancy could allow any defendants to challenge Mr. Kimbrough's authority to unearth evidence in the case.

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