SRC-JJJ S.B. 152 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 152
76R2616 JMC-FBy: West
Criminal Justice
2/22/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law may only charge a juvenile adjudicated of committing a
felony who escapes from a secure juvenile correctional facility with a
Class A misdemeanor, except in cases in which the juvenile causes bodily
injury, serious bodily injury, or  uses or threatens to use a deadly weapon
during the escape.  Within the past year, there has been an increase in the
number of escapes and attempted escapes at state juvenile correctional
facilities.  This bill makes the offense of escape by high-risk juvenile
inmates a felony of the third degree. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 152  establishes provisions regarding the punishment for
escape committed by certain juveniles in the custody of the Texas Youth
Commission. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 38.06(c), Penal Code,  to provide that an
offense under this section is a felony of the third degree if the actor is
committed to a secure correctional facility, as defined by Section 51.02,
Family Code, other than a halfway house, operated by or under contract with
the Texas Youth Commission.  Makes a conforming change. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.