SRC-JBJ H.B. 2239 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2239
77R11683 KEL-DBy: Salinas (Zaffirini)
Criminal Justice
5/7/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Sex Offender Registration Program imposes certain requirements on
the Department of Public Safety (department), local law enforcement
authorities (authorities), and persons required by law to register as sex
offenders (offender).  Currently, there is no standard format for photo
images that authorities provide to the department with sex offender
registration information.  Consequently, some authorities send photos to
the department that are not usable.  H.B. 2239 requires the department to
maintain the database by using photographs obtained from driver's license
or identification card applications or renewals by offenders. 

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 Article 62.08, Code of Criminal Procedure, to require
the Department of Public Safety (department), notwithstanding Chapter 730,
Transportation Code, to maintain in the database, and to post on any
department website related to the database, any photograph of the person
that is available through the process for obtaining or renewing a personal
identification certificate or driver's license under Section 521.103 or
521.272, Transportation Code.  Requires the department to update the
photograph in the database and on the website annually or as the photograph
otherwise becomes available through the renewal process for the certificate
or license.  

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