BILL ANALYSIS C.S.S.B. 223 By: Zaffirini Criminal Justice 2-8-95 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Victims of domestic violence have expressed concern that a released batterer may attempt to find and harm them. Providing notice to the victims prior to release may enable the victim to find alternate living arrangements or seek refuge. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 223 requires an agency holding a person in the prevention of domestic violence to attempt to provide notice to the victim prior to the person's release. 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 Article 17.291, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding Subsection (c), to require an agency arresting or holding a person in the prevention of family violence or before releasing a person convicted of a family violence offense to make a reasonable attempt to give personal notice of the imminent release to the victim of the alleged offense or to a person designated by the victim to receive notice prior to the release of the person being held. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.