HBA-TBM C.S.H.B. 2239 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2239 By: Salinas Public Safety 4/10/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas Sex Offender Registration Program imposes requirements on the Department of Public Safety (DPS), local law enforcement authorities (authorities), and persons required by law to register as sex offenders (offender). DPS is required to maintain a central sex offender database containing identification information about offenders. An offender is required to renew a driver's license or identification card annually and to register with authorities. Authorities are required to provide all sex offender registration information to DPS. Currently, there is no standard format for photo images that authorities provide to DPS with sex offender registration information. Consequently, some authorities send photos to DPS that are not usable. C.S.H.B. 2239 requires DPS to use photographs obtained from driver's license or identification card applications or renewals by offenders to maintain the database. 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 C.S.H.B. 2239 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the use of photographs on the state's sex offender database. The bill requires the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to use the photograph obtained through the driver's license or identification card application or renewal process for the purpose of posting a photograph of a sex offender on the central sex offender database (database), including the database accessible via DPS's Internet website. The bill provides that the database be updated annually or as new photographs are obtained through driver's license or identification card renewals. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 2239 conforms the original to Texas Legislative Council style and format. The substitute also changes the effective date from the 91st day after adjournment to on passage or September 1, 2001.