SRC-SLL H.B. 658 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterH.B. 658 By: Burnam (Moncrief) Criminal Justice 5-14-97 Committee Report (Amended) 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. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Amendment 1. On page 1, line 15, strike "25" and insert "22".