SRC-DPW S.B. 1576 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1576
76R2680 GWK-DBy: West
Criminal Justice
4/6/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, local law enforcement agencies report an increase in prison gang
related violence in many of Texas' major cities.  The need for better
collaboration between the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Institutional Division (TDCJ, Institutional Division), parole division, and
local and state law enforcement to more effectively monitor the activities
of members of prison gangs or security threat groups once released into
society, has become more evident.  This bill would require the TDCJ,
Institution Division to notify a sheriff or chief of police of the date of
release of a inmate classified as a member of a security threat group. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1576 requires notification to be given to local law
enforcement of the release of certain gang members from the institutional
division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. 

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 Chapter 499C, Government Code, by adding Section 499.051,
as follows: 

Sec. 499.051. NOTIFICATION OF RELEASE OF GANG MEMBER. Requires the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to provide notice to a sheriff or
chief of police of a county or municipality of the release of an inmate
determined to be a member of a security threat group, and requires TCDJ to
include the date of release and the classification of the person being
released.  Requires the TDCJ to include the information in Subsection (a)
if notification is required to be given to a sheriff under Section 508.115. 

SECTION 2. Provides that the change in the law made by this Act only
applies to a certain notification. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.