By:  Greenberg                                         H.B. No. 236
       73R2005 GWK-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the use of electronic monitoring to supervise certain
    1-3  persons released after serving sentences for offenses involving
    1-4  sexual assault or similar conduct.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Section 22, Article 42.18, Code of Criminal
    1-7  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
    1-8        Sec. 22.  Electronic Monitoring.  (a)  In order to establish
    1-9  and maintain electronic monitoring programs as authorized by this
   1-10  article, the pardons and paroles division may fund electronic
   1-11  monitoring programs in parole offices, develop standards for the
   1-12  operation of electronic monitoring programs in parole offices, and
   1-13  provide funds for the purchase, lease, or maintenance of electronic
   1-14  monitoring equipment.  In determining whether electronic monitoring
   1-15  equipment should be leased or purchased, the pardons and paroles
   1-16  division shall take into consideration the rate at which
   1-17  technological change makes electronic monitoring equipment
   1-18  obsolete.
   1-19        (b)  The pardons and paroles division shall give priority in
   1-20  the use of electronic monitoring programs to supervise defendants
   1-21  released after serving sentences for sexual assault, aggravated
   1-22  sexual assault, or indecency with a child.
   1-23        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-24  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-1  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-2  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-3  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-4  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-5  passage, and it is so enacted.