SRC-CDH S.B. 918 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 918
By: Patterson
Finance
3-17-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, there are more than 13,379 parole violators at large in Texas.
Apart from local law enforcement efforts, which are often carried out on a
restricted budget with limited manpower, the only effort by statewide law
enforcement is the Department of Public Safety Fugitive Apprehension Squad
which consists of four DPS officers for the entire state.  This
legislation creates a fugitive apprehension account in the state treasury
to be used by DPS solely for the purpose of rounding up parole violators
in an attempt to facilitate the quick capture of those persons.  The
account will be funded by taking 30 percent of the Crime Victims
Compensation Fund, a one-time withdrawal which will yield roughly $27
million to fund fugitive apprehension for the next decade.   
   
PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 918 establishes a method of funding the cost of
apprehending certain inmates for whom warrants are issued by the Board of
Pardons and Paroles or the pardons and paroles division of the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice.   

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 Chapter 411A, Government Code, by adding Section
411.0097, as follows: 

Sec. 411.0097.  FUGITIVE APPREHENSION ACCOUNT.  Provides that the fugitive
apprehension account is a special account in the general revenue fund.
Authorizes the legislature to appropriate funds in the account only for
the purpose of paying for the cost to the Department of Public Safety of
the State of Texas of apprehending individuals for whom warrants have been
issued.  Provides that this section expires September 1, 1999. 

SECTION 2. Amends Article 56.54, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding
Subsection (h), to require the comptroller, not later than September 1,
1997, to determine the amount of money credited on that date to the
compensation to victims of crime fund and to the compensation to victims
of crime auxiliary fund, and also the amount that will be subsequently
credited to those funds during the biennium ending August 31, 1999.
Requires the comptroller to determine whether this amount exceeds the
amount of money necessary during the biennium to pay compensation to
claimants or victims and other administration expenses.  Requires the
comptroller, if there is an excess amount, to transfer 30 percent from the
compensation to victims of crime account to the fugitive apprehension
account on September 1, 1997, under certain circumstances.  Provides that
this subsection expires September 1, 1999. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  upon passage.