MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON SEX OFFENDERS (INTERIM)
Monday, April 6, 1998
1:00 p.m.
Houston City Council Chamber Annex
900 Bagby
Houston, Texas
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Sex
Offenders (Interim) was held on Monday, April 6, 1998 in
Houston City Council Chamber Annex, 900 Bagby, Houston, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Florence Shapiro Senator Eliot
Shapleigh
Senator John Whitmire
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m.. 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. Diane Clements, President of Justice For
All. Ms. Clements testified on the issue of civil commitment
and the need for its implementation.
The chair called Mr. William "Rusty" Hubbarth, Vice President
of Justice For All. Mr. Hubbarth testified on the issue of
civil commitment and the need for its implementation.
The chair called Ms. Linda Reeves, Executive Director of the
Texas Inmate Families Association. Ms. Reeves testified on the
issue of civil commitment and the need for its implementation.
The chair called Dr. Kaye Renshaw, Director of Education and
Research, with the Texas Association of Sex Offender
Treatment. Dr. Renshaw testified on the issue of civil
commitment and the need for its implementation.
The chair called Dr. Gerald Rogers, President of the Texas
Association of Sex Offender Treatment. Dr. Rogers testified
on the issue of civil commitment and the need for its
implementation.
The chair called Ms. Deana Lane, and officer with U.S.
Pre-Trial Services. Ms. Lane testified on the issue of civil
commitment and the need for its implementation.
The chair called Dr. Collier Cole, Chairman, of the Council
on Sex Offender Treatment and Ms. Grace Davis, Executive
Director, of the Council on Sex Offender Treatment. Dr. Cole
and Ms. Davis testified on the issue of civil commitment and
sex offender treatment.
The chair called Mr. Victor Rodriguez, Chairman of the Board
of Pardons & Parole. Chairman Rodriguez testified on the issue
of civil commitment and the need for its implementation.
The chair called Mr. Drew Durham, Deputy Attorney General for
Criminal Justice. Mr. Durham testified on the issue of civil
commitment and the effective use of the Attorney General's
office as prosecutors for the civil commitment of sexual
predators.
The chair called Mr. Robert Kepple, with the Texas District &
County Attorneys Association. Mr. Kepple testified on the
issue of civil commitment.
The chair called Mr. Latham Boone, Director of the Special
Prosecutors Office in Walker County. Mr. Boone testified on
the issue of civil commitment and the effective use of the
Special Prosecutor's Office as prosecutors for the civil
commitment of sexual predators.
The chair introduced the written testimony of Monica Woods
Alston, with Advocacy Inc. into the record. Without objection,
it was so ordered.
The chair called for public testimony all witnesses testifying
and registering are shown on the attached list.
There being no further business, at 3:50 p.m. Senator Shapiro
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Florence Shapiro, Chair
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Helen Gonz lez, Clerk