SRC-DPW S.B. 578 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 578
76R1701 JD-DBy: Armbrister
Criminal Justice
3/29/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, under Texas law the term "final conviction" frequently causes
confusion for clerks in reporting convictions to the Texas Department of
Public Safety for the purpose of suspending a defendant's driver's license.
This bill would redefine "final conviction" to clarify the treatment of
deferred adjudication and court ordered deferral of final disposition of a
case. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 578 sets forth criteria for a final conviction to be
reported to the Texas Department of Public Safety for suspension of the
defendants' driver's licenses. 

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 521.347(c), Transportation Code, to redefine
"conviction" to mean a conviction is not a final conviction if the
defendant receives deferred adjudication, or the court defers final
disposition, unless the court subsequently proceeds with an adjudication of
guilt and imposes a sentence on the defendant. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.