SRC-BWC S.B. 654 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 654 By: Staples Criminal Justice 6/12/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, there is no mechanism for professional licensing organizations to be notified when a sex offender registers with local law enforcement. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) created 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 offenders professional licenses. S.B. 654 adds an additional requirement that sex offenders disclose which professional licenses they currently hold or intend to seek. This bill also requires DPS to forward the information provided by the sex offender to the appropriate license. This streamlines the process and prevents the licensing authority from having to use additional resources to locate sex offenders who hold licenses. S.B. 654 does not apply to drivers or hunting licenses. 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 62.02(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, to require the Department of Public Safety (department) to provide 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 with a form for registering persons required by this chapter to register. Requires the registration form to require a recent color photograph or, if possible, an electronic digital image of the person and a complete se of the person's fingerprints, and an indication of each license, as defined by Article 62.08(f), that is held or sought by the person. SECTION 2. Amends Article 62.08, Code of Criminal Procedure, to require the department to provide a licensing authority with notice of any person required to register under this chapter who holds or seeks a license that is issued by the authority, and requires the department to provide the notice as the applicable licensing information becomes available through the person's registration or verification of registration. SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2001.