S.B. 1896 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 1896
By: Whitmire
Law Enforcement
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, if a person who commits a felony confesses the crime to a peace
officer, the officer cannot arrest the person.  As proposed, Senate Bill
1896 allows a peace officer to make a warrantless arrest when a person
confesses to committing a felony if the confession would be admissible as
evidence and establishes probable cause.  

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

Senate Bill 1896 amends Article 14.03 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by
providing that a person who makes a statement to a peace officer that
would be admissible against the person under Article 38.21 and establishes
probable cause to believe that the person has committed a felony may be
arrested by the peace officer without a warrant.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.