1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the collection and disposal of information pertaining

 1-3     to a criminal combination.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Article 61.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is

 1-6     amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

 1-7           (d)  A local criminal justice agency may send information

 1-8     collected under this chapter to a regional database.

 1-9           SECTION 2.  Article 61.04(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, is

1-10     amended to read as follows:

1-11           (a)  Notwithstanding Chapter 58 [Section 51.14], Family Code,

1-12     criminal information relating to a child associated with a

1-13     combination may be compiled and released under this chapter

1-14     regardless of the age of the child.

1-15           SECTION 3.  Article 61.06, Code of Criminal Procedure, is

1-16     amended to read as follows:

1-17           Art. 61.06.  DESTRUCTION OF RECORDS.  (a)  Except as provided

1-18     by Subsection (b), information [Information] collected under this

1-19     chapter must be destroyed after two years if the individual has not

1-20     been charged with criminal activity.

1-21           (b)  The information destruction requirements of Subsection

1-22     (a) are suspended until September 1, 1999.

1-23           SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies to

1-24     criminal information, as that term is defined by Article 61.01,

 2-1     Code of Criminal Procedure, without regard to whether the

 2-2     information originated or was first compiled before, on, or after

 2-3     the effective date of this Act.

 2-4           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-5     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-6     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-7     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-8     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-9     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-10     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2874 was passed by the House on May

         10, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in

         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2874 on May 24, 1997, by a non-record

         vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2874 was passed by the Senate, with

         amendments, on May 22, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays

         0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor