SRC-TJG S.B. 1015 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1015
By: Wentworth
Criminal Justice
6/25/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, under the Public Information Act, information held by a law
enforcement agency or prosecutor or filed with a court and that is
contained in a victim impact statement or was submitted for purposes of
preparing a victim impact statement is not confidential.  S.B. 1015
excepts certain information contained in a crime victim impact statement
from disclosure under the Public Information Act.  The exception would
apply to the name, social security number, address, telephone number, and
any other information that could be used to identify a crime victim. 

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 Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, by adding
Section 552.1325, as follows: 

Sec. 552.1325.  CRIME VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT: CERTAIN INFORMATION
CONFIDENTIAL.  (a) Defines "crime victim" and "victim impact statement."  

(b) Provides that certain identifying information that is held by a
government body or filed with a court and that is contained in a victim
impact statement or was submitted for purposes of preparing a victim
impact statement is confidential. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subdivision (9), Subsection (a), Article 56.32, Code of
Criminal Procedure, to redefine "pecuniary loss." 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.