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