HBA-NIK, PDH H.B. 854 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 854 By: Capelo Corrections 3/16/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) conducts a Texas Crime Information Center/National Crime Information Center criminal history check on all new admissions to the prison system. Should there be an outstanding warrant, the department contacts the appropriate jurisdiction to ask whether it wishes to place a detainer on the inmate. If a warrant is issued after an inmate has entered the prison system, the entity placing the warrant can verify that the inmate is incarcerated in TDCJ and contact the department if it wants to place a detainer on the inmate. This bill requires TDCJ to check for warrants at the time of release to insure that outstanding warrants are addressed before releasing the inmate from custody. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 493, Government Code, by adding Section 493.0145, as follows: Sec. 493.0145. IDENTIFICATION OF INMATES SUBJECT TO WARRANT FROM ANOTHER JURISDICTION. Requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (department), prior to the inmate being released on parole or mandatory supervision, to conduct a criminal history record check to determine whether an inmate is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by a court having jurisdiction in another state. Requires the department to allow sufficient time for compliance with any requirements related to notifying the proper authorities of the inmate's discharge or release and providing for extradition of the inmate. SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3.Emergency clause.