SRC-JBJ S.B. 214 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 214
77R2380 JMG-FBy: Bernsen
Jurisprudence
1/24/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current Texas law, the statute of limitations on kidnapping, injury
to a child, elderly, or disabled individual, or abandoning or endangering a
child is three years, a term which can cause an undue and unnecessary
burden on local district attorneys in solving such cases.  As proposed,
S.B. 214 increases the statute of limitations from three years to five
years for these felony offenses. 

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 12.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, to authorize
felony indictments for the commission of the offenses of kidnapping, injury
to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual, or abandoning or
endangering a child, except as provided by Article 12.03, to be presented
within five years from the date of the commission of the offense, and not
afterwards.  Makes a nonsubstantive change. 
        
SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.
            Makes application of this Act prospective.