SRC-TJG, VRA S.B. 143 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 143
78R199 MCK-DBy: Ellis, Rodney
Criminal Justice
4/22/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires any person who has cause to believe that a child's
welfare is in danger from abuse or neglect to report the suspected abuse
or neglect.  As proposed, S.B. 143 extends the statute of limitations and
enhances the penalty for failure to report child abuse. 

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 Section 261.109(b), Family Code, to provide that an
offense of failure to report child abuse is a felony of the third degree
rather than a Class B misdemeanor. 

SECTION 2.  Reenacts and amends Article 12.01, Code of Criminal Procedure,
as amended by Chapters 12, 1479, and 1482, Acts of the 77th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2001, to add a new subdivision providing a statute of
limitations for felony indictments relating to the prosecution of the
offense of failure to report child abuse. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.
                       Makes application of this Act prospective.