BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 964

By: Jetton

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The sex offender registration program does not currently require registration by educators who have had been convicted of the offense of having an improper relationship with a student. Changing the law to require registration by educators convicted of such an offense would provide additional oversight of these offenders and help protect minors. H.B. 964 seeks to address this issue by requiring sex offender registration by an educator who has an improper relationship with a student.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 964 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to include the offense of improper relationship between an educator and student among the offenses for which a reportable conviction or adjudication requires a person to register under the sex offender registration program. The bill applies only to an offense committed on or after the bill's effective date. The bill provides for the continuation of the law in effect before the bill's effective date for purposes of an offense, or any element thereof, that occurred before that date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.