H.B. 1401 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1401
By: Goolsby
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Department of Public Safety administers the Texas Amber Alert
Network to alert the public when a child is believed to have been abducted
and is in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death, and when an
investigation has eliminated alternative explanations for the missing
child, and when there is sufficient information available to disseminate
to the public that could assist in the case. 

Once DPS notifies the Commission of an Amber alert activation, this bill
requires the Texas Lottery Commission to disseminate via its central
computer terminal system to the more than 16,000 retail locations
statewide the information. This information is takes the form of starlight
LED messages which are visible to members of the public who are present at
a retail location, as well as printed news messages to the retail clerks
who operate the online lottery terminals. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY


It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 466, Government Code, by adding Section
466.026 to require the Texas Lottery Commission, on receipt of notice by
the Department of Public Safety that the Statewide Texas Amber Alert
Network has been activated, shall disseminate Amber Alert information at
its retail locations through the lottery operator system. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003