BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 1262

79R6195 RMB-F                                                                                              By: Farabee (Seliger)

                                                                                                                                   Criminal Justice

                                                                                                                                            5/17/2005

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law requires the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to collect and disseminate information regarding serious threats against a peace officer and notify the officer against whom the threat is made.  However, this law does not apply to detention officers employed in municipal county jails, who, because of their close proximity to offenders and the extended nature of their contact with them, are often threatened by those under their supervision.

 

H.B. 1262 extends the provisions of the threat database system to include information regarding threats made against detention officers employed in municipal or county jails.

 

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 the heading to Section 411.048, Government Code, to read as follows:

 

Sec. 411.048.  THREATS AGAINST PEACE OFFICERS AND DETENTION OFFICERS. 

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Sections 411.048(a)-(e) and (h), Government Code, as follows:

 

(a)  Defines "detention officer."

 

(b)  Requires the bureau of identification and records to establish and maintain a central index in the law enforcement information system maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to collect and disseminate information relating to an individual's expression of intent to inflict serious bodily injury or death on a detention officer.  Makes a conforming change.

 

(c)  Makes a conforming change.

 

(d)  Makes a conforming change.

 

(e)  Makes a conforming change.

 

(h)  Makes a conforming change.

 

SECTION 3.  Amends the heading to Section 552.108, Government Code, to read as follows:

 

Sec. 552.108.  EXCEPTION:  CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT, CORRECTIONS, AND PROSECUTORIAL INFORMATION.

 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 552.108(a), Government Code, to make a conforming change.

 

SECTION 5.  Effective date:  September 1, 2005.