SRC-JBJ H.B. 1659 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1659
77R4589 GWK-DBy: Ritter (Staples)
Criminal Justice
4/27/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (department) returns
defendants or inmates to a state court if that court issues a bench warrant
because the offender's attendance is required for a court proceeding.
Sometimes the defendant or inmate is released from custody either on bail
or because the charges against the person are dismissed.  Although the
department is required to maintain a victims notification system to provide
victims information on the location of an offender, the county is not
required to inform the department if a person is released.  H.B. 1659
requires a county to immediately notify the department if an inmate or
defendant transferred from the department to the county is released on bail
or due to a dismissal of charges on which the person was convicted.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 24, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding
Article 24.131, as follows: 

Art. 24.131.  NOTIFICATION TO DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.  Requires the
county, if after the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (department)
transfers a defendant or inmate to a county under Article 24.13 and before
that person is returned to the department the person is released on bail or
the charges on which the person was convicted and for which the person was
transferred to the department are dismissed, to immediately notify an
officer designated by the department of the dismissal. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.