AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law defines the chief of police of a municipality or sheriff of a county as the "local law enforcement authority" in handling matters relating to the registration and tracking of sex offenders in the respective municipality or county.  An expanded definition that includes the office of the chief of police and the office of the sheriff could ease an unnecessary burden on these officials, who frequently experience a heavy caseload, by allowing experienced staff in those offices to register, publicize, record, and enforce rules pertaining to sex offenders residing in the respective jurisdiction.  This would save time and resources spent on processing the high volume of paperwork involved in the registration and tracking of sex offenders.

 

H.B. 530 will increase productivity in the offices of police chiefs and sheriffs, reduce the workload of police chiefs and sheriffs, and improve the efficiency of the sex offender registration and monitoring process and this improvement will help protect the community.

 

H.B. 530 amends current law relating to the definition of local law enforcement authority for purposes of the sex offender registration program.

 

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 Article 62.001(2), Code of Criminal Procedure, to redefine "local law enforcement" to mean, as applicable, the office of the chief of police of a municipality, the office of the sheriff of a county in this state, or a centralized registration authority.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.