CN S.B. 625 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS JUVENILE JUSTICE & FAMILY ISSUES S.B. 625 By: Whitmire 5-1-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, information about juveniles is kept confidential. Under certain circumstances, this information should be released. This bill will authorize the Department of Public Safety to disseminate certain information about a juvenile offender who has escaped from the custody of the Texas Youth Commission if it is necessary to protect the public welfare. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 625 authorizes the Department of Public Safety to disseminate certain information about a juvenile offender who has escaped from the custody of the Texas Youth Commission if it is necessary to protect the public welfare. 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 58.106, Family Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c), to provide that, except as otherwise provided by this section, information contained in the juvenile justice information system is confidential information. Authorizes the Department of Public Safety, if necessary to protect the welfare of the community, to disseminate to the public certain information relating to a juvenile offender who has escaped the custody of the Texas Youth Commission. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act retroactive. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.