SRC-TJG S.B. 924 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 924
78R2451 KEL-DBy: Zaffirini
Criminal Justice
4/6/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the number of juveniles perpetrating sexual offenses is
increasing.  As proposed, S.B. 924 establishes an interview program for
young offenders between the ages of 13 and 21 to be administered by the
Sexual Assault Prevention and Crisis Services program within the Office of
the Attorney General.  The Office of the Attorney General would be charged
with approving applications by qualified non-profit organizations to offer
the intervention programs.  Judges would have the discretion to require
offenders to participate in the program if it is available in the area.
The program would not be available to certain offenders. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the attorney general in
SECTION 1 (Section 420.0065, Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 420A, Government Code, by adding Section
420.0065, as follows: 

Sec. 420.0065.  SEXUAL ASSAULT OFFENDER PROJECT.  (a) Defines "eligible
sexual assault offender." 

(b) Requires the attorney general, by rule, to establish and administer
through the Sexual Assault Prevention and Crisis Service a project in
which local and statewide programs provide intervention services to
eligible sexual assault offenders. 

(c) Requires the attorney general to contract with local and statewide
programs who apply and are qualified to offer services under this section. 

(d) Requires the attorney general to establish procedures for an eligible
sexual offender receiving services from a program under this section to
pay to the program all costs incurred in providing the services of the
offender.  Requires the offender to pay those costs in accordance with the
procedures established under this subsection. 

SECTION 2.  (a) Requires the attorney general to adopt rules as necessary
under Section 420.0065, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later
than December 1, 2003. 

(b) Requires the attorney general to establish the sexual assault offender
project required by Section 420.0065, Government Code, as added by this
Act, not later than September 1, 2004. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.