MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Thursday, October 10, 2024

10:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.028

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice was held on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Pete Flores, Chair	Senator Phil King, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt	Senator Borris Miles
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Joan Huffman

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Witnesses testifying and registering on the following charge.

Retail Theft: Study the effects of organized retail crime in Texas and in other states. Evaluate the reporting and legislative suggestions from the statewide Organized Retail Theft Task Force. Make recommendations to protect the safety of retail employees and business owners in Texas.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the following charge.

Financial Crimes: Evaluate financial criminal activity trends in Texas, including the fiscal impact on consumers, financial institutions, local economies, and businesses. Determine the extent of payment fraud by transnational criminal gangs. Study the impact of the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC). Make recommendations that enhance penalties for check and payment fraud and identify ways to strengthen financial crime investigations in Texas.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

Witnesses testifying and registering on the following charge.

Supporting Victims of Sexual Assault: Examine the collection and processing of “rape kits” by law enforcement agencies and testing laboratories. Make recommendations to ensure that forensic evidence collected from victims of sexual assault is processed in a timely manner.

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

There was no action taken for the above charge(s).

There being no further business, at 2:30 PM Senator Hinojosa moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Pete Flores, Chair

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Luke Owen, Clerk