BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 821

By: Shaheen

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that some offenders, particularly those accused of sexually-related crimes, have too much access to certain Internet websites. H.B. 821 seeks to address this issue by requiring the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to adopt a policy regarding sex-offender solicitation of pen pals.

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. 821 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) not later than December 1, 2017, to adopt a policy that prohibits an inmate confined in a facility operated by or under contract with TDCJ who is serving a sentence for an offense for which registration as a sex offender is required from placing an advertisement soliciting a pen pal on a website operated for that purpose, regardless of whether another person submits or pays for the advertisement for the inmate.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.