SRC-MAX H.B. 921 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 921
By: Danburg (Shapiro)
Criminal Justice
5-17-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the statute of limitation for cases of childhood sexual abuse
is ten years from the date of the commission of the offense.  In some
cases. survivors of childhood sexual abuse are too young and too dependent
on their abusers to report the abuse within the statutory time period.
This bill revises the statute of limitation for sexual offense committed
against children.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 921 sets forth provisions regarding the statute of
limitations for certain sexual offenses committed against children. 

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 Article 12.01, Code of Criminal Procedures, to authorize
felony indictments to be presented ten years from the date of the
commission of the offense of indecency with a child under Section
21.119a0(2), Penal Code, and ten years from the 18th birthday of the
victim of certain offenses. 

SECTION 2. Amends Article 12.03(d), Code of Criminal Procedure, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 3. Provides that the change in law made by this Act does not apply
to an offense if the prosecution of the offense became barred by
limitation before the effective date of this Act.  Provides that the
prosecution of that offense remains barred as though this Act had not
taken effect. 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.