SRC-BWC S.B. 1455 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1455
77R235 QS-DBy: Lucio
Criminal Justice
4/29/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Following a triple homicide in Brownsville, Texas, the juvenile suspect
fled to the Houston area. The Brownsville police department was prohibited
by law from releasing any information about the suspect to the public
because the suspect was a juvenile.  During the 76th Legislature, S.B. 187
was passed authorizing the Department of Public Safety (department) to
release certain information to the public concerning juveniles suspected of
committing violent felonies who had fled from apprehension if the
department found it necessary to protect the welfare of the community.
This information could only be released upon a directive to apprehend or an
arrest warrant issued by the court.  As proposed, S.B. 1455 requires the
department to release information on violent juvenile offenders to the
public if a law enforcement agency has been authorized to apprehend the
offender or an arrest warrant has been issued for the offender's arrest. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTIONS 1.  Requires the Department of Public Safety (department), rather
than authorizes the department if necessary to protect the welfare of the
community, to disseminate to the public the information listed under
Subsection (c) relating to a juvenile offender when notified by a law
enforcement agency that the law enforcement agency has been issued a
directive to apprehend the offender or an arrest warrant for the offender
or that the law enforcement agency is otherwise authorized to arrest the
offender and that the offender is suspected of having committed certain
acts.   

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.
            Makes application of this Act prospective.