SRC-JJJ S.B. 565 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 565
76R6569 GWK-FBy: Jackson
Criminal Justice
2/22/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, there is no unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety
(DPS) that deals specifically with monitoring the compliance of sex
offenders as designated in the state statute.  As of February 1999, there
have been 16,404 sex offenders registered with the Texas Sex Offender
registration and notification program.  This bill creates a sex offender
compliance unit in the DPS.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 565 creates a sex offender compliance unit in the
Department of Public Safety. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Department of Public Safety in
SECTION 1 (Section 411.0098(d), Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 411A, Government Code, by adding Section
411.0098, as follows: 

Sec. 411.0098.  SEX OFFENDER COMPLIANCE UNIT.  Requires the public safety
director to create a sex offender compliance unit (unit) to be operated by
the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).  Requires the unit to
investigate and arrest individuals determined to have committed a sexually
violent offense, as defined by Article 62.01, Code of Criminal Procedure.
Authorizes the legislature to appropriate funds to DPS from the fugitive
apprehension account for the purpose of paying the costs to DPS for
implementing this section.  Authorizes DPS to adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.