SRC-SLL S.B. 66 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 66 By: Moncrief Criminal Justice 3-10-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Texas law requires the community justice assistance division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, a community supervision and corrections department, or a vendor proposing to operate a corrections facility to provide public notice of certain meetings. However, citizens have complained that the notice required is inadequate. In one instance, a hearing on a halfway house for sex offenders was held on Easter weekend, and the notice of the hearing was small and did not clearly state how the facility would be used. This bill expands the notice requirements and prohibits the meetings from being held at certain times. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 66 provides for notice to the public and to public officials concerning activities affecting certain community corrections facilities. 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 Sections 509.010(b) and (e), Government Code, to require the community justice assistance division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (division), a community supervision and corrections department, or a vendor proposing to operate a corrections facility to provide public notice of a hearing on a proposed action by publishing in a newspaper a notice that is not less than 3-1/2 inches by 5 inches. Requires the division to include the police chief, sheriff, mayor, county judge, and school board member who serves or represents the area in which a correction facility is located in the list of officials who must be notified by mail of a hearing. Prohibits the division from holding a meeting on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Requires meetings to be held after 6 p.m. SECTION 2. Amends Section 25(c), Article 42.18, Code of Criminal Procedure, to require notice of proposed actions to be made in conformance with Section 509.010, Government Code. Requires the division, when taking certain actions related to a community residential facility, to provide notice that clearly states that the proposed action concerns a facility which houses persons released from prison on parole or mandatory supervision. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.