HBA-CMT, SEP H.B. 331 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 331
By: Clark
Corrections
4/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, if the parole panel determines that a child under 17
years of age was the victim of a sex crime, the parole panel must establish
a child safety zone as a condition of parole or mandatory supervision for
the sex offender that committed the crime.   If the defendant is under
community supervision the distance of the child safety zone is specified by
a judge.   House Bill 331 requires that a sex offender  released on
community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision is prohibited from
being within 1,000 feet of a place where children commonly gather.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 331 amends the Government Code and the Code of Criminal
Procedure to require sex offenders released on community supervision,
mandatory supervision, or parole to maintain a distance of at least 1,000
feet from premises where children commonly gather, including a school,
day-care facility, playground, public or private youth center, public
swimming pool, or video arcade facility.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.