BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                             H.B. 434

                                                                                                                                        By: Madden

                                                                                                                                          Corrections

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Current law authorizes the executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to appoint employees as peace officers.  In practice however, the executive director does not supervise these individuals.  The peace officers report to the inspector general, who reports directly to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice.  HB 434 removes the executive director as the appointing authority, giving the authority to the inspector general.  

 

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

 

HB 434 authorizes the inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (department) to appoint certified peace officers to serve and assist the inspector general in performing the enforcement duties of the department.  Under current law, the executive director of the department holds this authority.  HB 434 makes necessary statutory changes by replacing "executive director" with "inspector general" in Section 493.019, Government Code, and Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.