BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         H.B. 809
                                        By: Williamson (Whitmire)
                                                 Criminal Justice
                                                          5-24-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Currently, a local crime stoppers program must pay all money
received toward rewards and cannot use donations toward payment of
administrative expenses.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 809 prohibits a local crime stoppers program from
using more than 10 percent of money received to pay for
administrative costs.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 414.010, Government Code, as follows:

     Sec. 414.010.  New heading: PAYMENT FROM DEFENDANT ON
     COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.  Requires a local crime stoppers
     program certified by the Crime Policy Council (council) to
     receive money in the form of payments from defendants placed
     on community supervision to use not more than 10 percent of
     the money annually received to pay costs incurred in
     administering the program and must use the remainder of the
     money only to reward persons who report information on
     criminal activity.  Requires the program to file a detailed
     report with the council, by January 15 of each year.
     
     SECTION 2.     Amends Section 414.011(d), Government Code, to make
conforming changes.

SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 414, Government Code, by adding Section
414.0055, as follows:

     Sec. 414.0055.  New heading:  INSTALLATION OF CRIME STOPPERS
     SIGNS ON PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. (a)  Authorizes the council or
     a local crime stoppers program to install signs that inform
     the public of the functions of the council, promote crime
     stoppers programs, or relate to the public purposes of this
     chapter in the right-of-way of any public highway in this
     state.
     
     (b)  Requires the council or local crime stoppers program to
       notify the Texas Department of Transportation (department)
       or the political subdivision of the state that has
       jurisdiction over the highway, as appropriate, of the
       proposed installation.
       
       (c)  Authorizes the department or political subdivision to
       require that a sign be installed at an alternate site along
       the highway designated by the department or political
       subdivision that is as near as practicable to the proposed
       site.  Requires the alternate site to maximize the
       visibility of the message on the sign.
       
       (d)  Requires the council or local crime stoppers program to
       prepare the site for and install the sign in the manner
       required by written guidelines adopted by the department or
       the political subdivision with jurisdiction over the
       highway, unless the department or the political subdivision,
       as appropriate, determines that the public interest would
       best be served if the department or the political
       subdivision prepared the site and installed the sign. 
       Requires the site preparation and installation to be without
       cost to the council or local crime stoppers program if that
       determination is made.
       
       (e)  Sets forth the authority this section supersedes in
       case of any conflict.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.