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.