SRC-JJJ S.B. 1275 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1275 76R9315 PEP-DBy: Wentworth Criminal Justice 4/29/1999 Committee Report (Amended) 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 authorize felony indictments to be presented within certain limits, including 15 years from the date of the commission of the offense of sexual assault, and 15 years from the 18th birthday of the victim of certain offenses involving indecency and sexual assault. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Article 12.01(6), Code of Criminal Procedure, to authorize felony indictments to be presented within certain limits, including 15 years, rather than 10 years, from the 18th birthday of the victim of certain offenses.