By Capelo, et al.                                      H.B. No. 854
         76R7478 PEP-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the identification of certain persons confined by the
 1-3     Texas Department of Criminal Justice who are subject to a warrant.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Section 493.0145 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 493.0145.  IDENTIFICATION OF INMATES SUBJECT TO ARREST
 1-8     WARRANT.  Before an inmate is discharged or is released on parole
 1-9     or mandatory supervision from the department, the department shall
1-10     conduct a criminal history record check to determine whether the
1-11     inmate is the subject of an arrest warrant.  In conducting the
1-12     criminal history record check, the department shall allow
1-13     sufficient time for compliance with any requirements related to
1-14     notifying the proper authorities of the inmate's discharge or
1-15     release and, if necessary, providing for extradition of the inmate.
1-16           SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 507, Government Code, is
1-17     amended by adding Section 507.032 to read as follows:
1-18           Sec. 507.032.  IDENTIFICATION OF DEFENDANTS SUBJECT TO ARREST
1-19     WARRANT.  Before a defendant is released from confinement in a
1-20     state jail felony facility, the department shall conduct a criminal
1-21     history record check to determine whether the defendant is the
1-22     subject of an arrest warrant.  In conducting the criminal history
1-23     record check, the department shall allow sufficient time for
1-24     compliance with any requirements related to notifying the proper
 2-1     authorities of the defendant's release and, if necessary, providing
 2-2     for extradition of the defendant.
 2-3           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-4           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-5     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-6     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-7     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-8     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.