BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1190

By: Guillen

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law authorizes a law enforcement agency to use a certain amount of the proceeds from the auction of abandoned vehicles to compensate property owners whose property was damaged as a result of a criminal pursuit involving a law enforcement agency. Given the rise of transnational criminal activity along the Texas-Mexico border, interested parties contend that property owners who have had their property damaged by the increased presence of federal law enforcement agencies in areas along the border should be eligible for compensation for the damage. H.B. 1190 seeks to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 1190 amends the Transportation Code to include property owners whose property was damaged as a result of a pursuit involving a federal law enforcement agency among the property owners who may be compensated by a law enforcement agency or an attorney representing the state using certain excess funds from the proceeds of the sale of an abandoned motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or outboard motor transferred into a municipality's or county's general revenue account.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.