BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 200
82R15805 MAW-F	By: Parker (Whitmire)
	Criminal Justice
	4/29/2011
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is statutorily required to give notices on the release of an inmate or parole of an inmate to certain necessary parties.  Historically, TDCJ delivers this notice by way of United States postal mail.  This bill grants TDCJ permissive authority to give required notice of inmate release or parole by e-mail or other electronic communication.

H.B. 200 amends current law relating to the notification of the release of certain inmates given to certain courts and law enforcement agencies.

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 Section 493.025, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 493.025.  NOTIFICATION OF COURT OF RELEASE.  Requires The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), on release of an inmate who discharges the inmate's sentence or on release of an inmate on parole or to mandatory supervision, to promptly notify the clerk of the court in which the inmate was convicted of that fact.  Requires that the notice be provided by e-mail or other electronic communication.

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 499.026(d), Government Code, to require that any notice required by this subsection be provided by e-mail or other electronic communication.

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 499.051(a), Government Code, to require that the notice be provided by e-mail or other electronic communication.

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 508.115, Government Code, by adding Subsection (e) to require that the notice be provided by e-mail or other electronic communication.

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 508.181(g), Government Code, to require that the notice be provided by e-mail or other electronic communication.

SECTION 6.  Effective date: September 1, 2011.