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