MINUTES 
          
                    SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE ON SEX OFFENDERS 
                            Thursday, January 8, 1998 
                                    10:00 am 
                       Dallas County Commissioner's Court 
                          411 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas 
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Interim Committee on Sex  
         Offenders was held on Thursday, January 8, 1998 in Dallas  
         County Commissioner's Court, at Dallas, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Florence Shapiro                Senator John Whitmire 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:05 am.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         none. 
          
         The chair made opening remarks, welcomed invited speakers,  
         agency staff and the public.  The chair announced that the  
         purpose of this hearing was to study the issue of civil  
         commitment of sexual predators and to consider the laws on  
         civil commitment in Kansas, Washington and other states.   
         Also,  the committee would analyze the federal laws regarding  
         sex offender registration, to ensure that the State of Texas  
         is in compliance. The  chair introduced and recognized the  
         following representatives: Representative Brian McCall,  
         Representative Terri Hodge, and Representative Carolyn  
         Galloway who joined the committee for the hearing. 
          
         The chair called Gene and Peggy Schmidt, parent activists that  
         created a task force in Kansas, which in turn created the  
         civil commitment statute in Kansas. The Schmidt's testified on  
         the civil commitment interim charge and its effectiveness in  
         Kansas. 
          
         The chair called Ms. Sara Sappington, Assistant Attorney  
         General for Washington State. Ms. Sappington is the head of  
         the Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment Unit for  
         Washington.  She addressed the committee on the civil  
         commitment interim charge and its effectiveness in Washington  
         State.  
  
         The chair called Judge Pat McDowell, First Administrative  
         Judicial Region. Judge McDowell addressed the committee on the  
         interim charge of civil commitment as the United State Supreme  
         Court interpreted it. 
          
         There being no further business, at 12:05 pm Senator Shapleigh  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair, Senator Shapiro called the meeting to order at 1:05  
         pm. 
          
         The chair called Catherine McVey, Assistant Director for the  
         Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal  
         Justice. Ms. McVey answered question from the committee  
         dealing with  sex offender treatment programs within the Texas  
         Department of Criminal Justice.  
          
         The chair called John Bradley, Williamson County District  
         Attorney. Mr. Bradley addressed the committee on the civil  
         commitment interim charge. 
          
         The chair called Wayne Scott, Executive Director of the Texas  
         Department of Criminal Justice. Mr. Scott addressed the  
         committee on the civil commitment interim charge. 
          
         The chair called Camille Cain, Director of Planning and Grant  
         Administration for the Office of Governor George Bush.  Ms.  
         Cain addressed the committee on the federal compliance of sex  
         offender registration interim charge. 
          
         The chair called Paul Jordan, Texas Department of Public  
         Safety, Special Crimes Division.  Mr. Jordan addressed the  
         committee on the federal compliance of sex offender  
         registration interim charge. 
          
         The chair then called for public testimony.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering are shown on the attached list.  
          
         There being no further business, at 3:12 pm Senator Shapiro  
         moved that the Committee be adjourned. Without objection, it  
         was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Florence Shapiro, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Helen Gonz lez, Clerk