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.