HBA-TBM S.B. 661 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 661 By: Carona Corrections 4/9/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, information regarding special needs inmates is only received and shared by authorized state agencies and people who contract with one of those agencies. In many instances the individuals with direct and indirect contact with the inmate are not allowed to view the records. Senate Bill 661 adds certain entities that relate to special needs inmates to the list of authorized agencies. 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 661 amends the Health and Safety Code to add to the definition of "agency" a municipal or county health department, a hospital district, a judge of this state with jurisdiction over criminal cases, an attorney who is appointed or retained to represent a special needs offender, and an attorney representing the state. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.