SRC-SLL H.B. 658 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 658
By: Burnam (Moncrief)
Criminal Justice
5-7-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

In 1995, of all sex offenders in halfway houses statewide, 75 percent were
in two halfway houses in Fort Worth.  Although current law requires
parolees to be released to the county in which the defendant resided when
the offense was committed, the number of exceptions allowed may not
adequately protect communities from having a disproportionate share of sex
offenders paroled into an area.  This bill will provide regulations
regarding the county of residence of certain persons released on parole or
to mandatory supervision after serving sentences for sexual offenses. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 658 provides regulations regarding the county of
residence of certain persons released on parole or to mandatory
supervision after serving sentences for sexual offenses. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 8A, Article 42.18, Code of Criminal Procedure,
by adding Subsection (g), to require the pardons and paroles division
(division), on the first working day of each month, to notify the sheriff
of any county in which the total number of sex offenders under the
supervision and control of the division residing in the county exceeds 10
percent of the total number of sex offenders in the state under the
supervision and control of the division.  Authorizes a parole panel, if
the total number of sex offenders under the supervision and control of the
division residing in a county exceeds a certain number, to require a sex
offender to reside in that county only as required by Subsection (a) or
for the reason stated in Subsection (b)(2)(B).  Defines "sex offender." 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.