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.