SGN S.B. 113 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


CORRECTIONS
S.B. 113
By: Moncrief (Burnam)
5-7-97
Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND

Currently, when a prisoner is about to be released or transferred to a
halfway house, notification is required to be given to the sheriff,
prosecuting attorney, and the district judge in the county where the
prisoner was convicted and the county to which the prisoner is to be
released or sent to a halfway house.  In addition, within 10 days of the
parole panel deciding to transfer a prisoner to a halfway house, the
pardons and paroles division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
is required to notify the sheriff of the county in which the prisoner was
convicted, and the sheriff and prosecuting attorney in the county to which
the prisoner is being transferred.  Neither of these lists of officials to
be notified includes the chief of police of each county.  This bill will
require the pardons and paroles division to include chiefs of police in
the list of officials who must be notified of such actions.    

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 113 requires notification by the pardons and paroles
division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice of certain chiefs of
police when certain actions are taken regarding prisoners. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 8(h), Article 42.18, Code of Criminal Procedure,
to require the pardons and paroles division of the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice to include each chief of police in certain counties in
the list of officials to be notified of certain actions regarding
prisoners. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 8A(e), Article 42.18, Code of Criminal
Procedure, to require the pardons and paroles division to include the
reason for residency exemption in the required notification to the sheriff
of the county in which the defendant is to reside, the chief of police of
the municipality in which the halfway house is located, and the attorney
who represents the state in the prosecution of felonies in that county. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.