BILL ANALYSIS


                                                          S.B. 46
                                                      By: Shapiro
                                                 Criminal Justice
                                                         02-15-95
                                       Committee Report (Amended)

BACKGROUND

Currently, the institutional division of the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice is not required to notify a victim of an offense
if the inmate who committed the offense escapes.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 46 requires the institutional division of the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice to notify a victim, guardian,
or close relative of an inmates escape if the victim, guardian or
close relative is registered to receive such information.

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 Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure, by
amending Article 56.12, as follows:

     Art. 56.12.  NOTIFICATION OF ESCAPE.  (a)  Requires the Texas
     Department of Criminal Justice to make a reasonable attempt to
     notify the victim of an offense, the victim's guardian, or a
     deceased victim's close relative, whenever the offender
     escapes from a facility operated by the institutional
     division, upon request by the victim, victim's guardian, or
     victim's close relative.  Provides that an attempt to notify
     the victim, victim's guardian, or victim's close relative, at
     the last known telephone number or address, constitutes a
     reasonable attempt to give notice.
     
       (b)  Provides that the responsibility of registering for the
       information in Subsection (a) lies with the victim,
       guardian, or close relative.
       
       SECTION 2.   Emergency clause.    
           Effective date: upon passage.