Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 1224 amends the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the Sex Offender Registration Program. The act requires a sex offender who must register as a condition of parole, release to mandatory supervision, or community supervision to register with the local law enforcement agency in the county or municipality where the offender intends to reside within seven days after arrival. The act requires a person who is subject to registration requirements in another state and resides in Texas to comply with the annual verification requirements of the Sex Offender Registration Program under certain circumstances. It requires the local law enforcement authority to notify a school superintendent or administrator of a person who is registered as a sex offender, is 17 years of age or older, and is enrolled as a student in a public or private secondary school. The act requires a sex offender who changes addresses to provide proof of identity and residence to the local law enforcement agency within seven days and requires an offender who is not directly supervised by an officer to report a change in health or job status to a local law enforcement agency. It requires an offender who is subject to registration who regularly visits a location that is not in the municipality or county where the person is registered to report to the local law enforcement authority in the area regularly visited. The act revises the penalty schedule for failing to comply with the sex offender registration requirements.

            Senate Bill 1224 requires the Department of Public Safety to provide written notice to certain local residents when a person who is civilly committed as a sexually violent predator is due to be released and intends to reside in the neighborhood. The act establishes registration requirements for a person who is civilly committed as a sexually violent predator and makes it a second degree felony for a person not to comply with the requirements.