SRC-JJJ S.B. 1275 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1275
76R9315 PEP-DBy: Wentworth
Criminal Justice
4/26/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law stipulates a seven year statute of limitations for the
offense of sexual assault. in some cases, law enforcement officials have
identified rape suspects, but have not been able to bring a case to a grand
jury because of lack of evidence.  However, new developments in the use of
DNA testing allow for law enforcement officials to build a case long after
a crime was committed. S.B. 1275 would establish conditions regarding the
statute of limitations for purposes of prosecuting certain felony sex
offenses. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1275 establishes conditions regarding the statute of
limitations for purposes of prosecuting certain felony sex offenses. 

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 Article 12.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, to include in
felony indictments authorized to be presented within certain limits, 15
years from the date of the commission of the offense of sexual assault,
except as provided in Subdivision (6).  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive
changes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
            Makes application of this Act prospective.