SRC-JBJ, AXB S.B. 232 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 232
76R3688 GWK-DBy: Ellis
Jurisprudence
2/24/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Government Code does not require those responsible for
supervising defendants to notify the authority which originally placed
those defendants on community supervision or parole of the completion of a
period of supervision.  The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure makes
defendants liable for fines stemming from their cases; however, because of
the relocation of defendants, the collection rate for fines is only 61
percent for county courts and 26 percent for district courts.  To increase
fine collection rates, this bill would require the supervising departments
to promptly notify the convicting court of defendants' new status of
freedom. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 232 requires community supervision and corrections
departments to promptly notify certain courts of a defendant's completion
of community supervision or parole. 

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 Chapter 76, Government Code, by adding Section 76.020,
as follows: 

Sec.  76.020.  NOTIFICATION TO COURT OF COMPLETION OF SUPERVISION. Requires
a community supervision and corrections department which supervises a
defendant to promptly notify the appropriate court of the defendant's
completion of community supervision. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 508J, Government Code, by adding Section
508.330, as follows: 

Sec.  508.330.  NOTIFICATION TO COURT OF COMPLETION OF SUPERVISION.
Requires a community supervision and corrections department to notify the
appropriate clerk that a releasee has completed parole or mandatory
supervision. 

SECTION 3.Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.