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.