MINUTES 
          
                    SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE ON SEX OFFENDERS 
                          Wednesday, February 11, 1998 
                                    10:00 am 
                                 Senate Chamber 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         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 Wednesday, February 11, 1998 in the  
         Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Florence Shapiro, Chair         None 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator John Whitmire 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The chair called the meeting to order at 10:05 pm.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         none. 
          
         The chair, Senator Shapiro 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 review  
         sex offender registration and treatment programs. The chair  
         introduced and recognized Representative Peggy Hamric. 
          
         The chair called Ms. Carol Schaper with the Alliance for the  
         Mentally Ill of Collin County. Ms. Schaper testified on the  
         civil commitment interim charge. 
          
         The chair called Mr. Joe Lovelace with the Texas Alliance for  
         the Mentally Ill.  Mr. Lovelace testified on the civil  
         commitment interim charge. 
          
         The chair called Ms. Linda Marin, with Texas Cure.  Ms. Marine  
         testified on the issue of civil commitment. 
          
         The chair called Commissioner Don Gilbert, with the Texas  
         Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.  
         Commissioner Gilbert testified on the issue of civil  
         commitment. 
          
         The chair introduced the written testimony of Clifford Gay,  
  
         representing himself and Beth Mitchell with Advocacy, Inc.  
         into the record. Without objection, it was so ordered.  
          
         The chair called Ms. Grace Davis with Council on Sex Offender  
         Treatment. Ms Davis testified on the issue of civil commitment  
         and sex offender treatment. 
          
         The chair called Dr. Collier Cole with Council on Sex Offender  
         Treatment. Dr. Cole testified on the issue of civil commitment  
         and sex offender treatment. 
          
         The chair at 12:30 pm 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 1:45  
         pm. 
          
         The chair called Mr. Rob Kepple with the Texas District and  
         County Attorneys Association. Mr. Kepple testified on the  
         issue of civil commitment. 
          
         The chair called Cathy McVey, with the Texas Department of  
         Criminal Justice. Ms. McVey testified on the issue of civil  
         commitment and sex offender treatment. 
          
         The chair called Dr. Judy Johnson with the Texas Department of  
         Criminal Justice. Dr. Johnson testified on the issue of sex  
         offender treatment. 
          
         The chair called Cleopatra Navarro representing herself. Ms.  
         Navarro testified on the issue of civil commitment. 
          
         At 2:40 pm Senator Whitmire assumed the chair.   
          
         The chair called Ms. Linda Brooke and Mr. Wesley Shackelford  
         with the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission.  Ms. Brooke and  
         Mr. Shackelford testified on juvenile sexual assaults. 
          
         The chair called for public testimony all witnesses testifying  
         and registering are shown on the attached list.   
         There being no further business, at 2:50 pm Senator Whitmire  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Florence Shapiro, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Helen Gonz lez, Clerk