HBA-CMT S.B. 654 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 654 By: Staples Public Safety 4/29/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, there is no mechanism for professional licensing organizations to be notified when a sex offender registers with local law enforcement. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) creates a form to be filled out by sex offenders when the duty to register is imposed. However, no language is included in the form regarding the offender's professional licenses. Senate Bill 654 adds an additional requirement that sex offenders disclose which professional licenses they currently hold or intend to seek and requires DPS to forward the information provided by the sex offender to the appropriate licensing authority. 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 Senate Bill 654 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to require the registration form for sex offenders that is given to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Youth Commission, the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, and each local law enforcement authority, county jail, and court to include an indication of each license that is held or sought by the person registering as a sex offender. The bill requires the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to provide a licensing authority with notice of any person required to register as a sex offender who holds or seeks a license that is issued by the authority. DPS is required to provide the notice as the applicable licensing information becomes available through the person's registration or verification of registration. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.