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.