BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1655
85R5066 JCG-D	By: King, Phil (Huffines)
	Veteran Affairs & Border Security
	5/8/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current law requires incidences of domestic violence involving members of the Texas Military Forces to be reported to the staff judge advocate at Joint Force Headquarters. This requirement has caused confusion at the local law enforcement level because it is unclear to whom to report.

H.B. 1655 clarifies the ambiguous reporting requirement by requiring that incidences of domestic violence be reported straight to the staff judge advocate general's office.

H.B. 1655 amends current law relating to the reporting of certain offenses committed by members of the Texas military forces.

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 42.0183(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, to require the clerk of the court in which the conviction or deferred adjudication is entered, as soon as possible after the date on which the defendant is convicted or granted deferred adjudication on the basis of an offense, to provide written notice of the conviction or deferred adjudication to the staff judge advocate general, rather than the staff judge advocate at Joint Force Headquarters, or the provost marshal of the military installation to which the defendant is assigned with the intent that the commanding officer will be notified, as applicable.

SECTION 2. Provides that the change in law made by this Act to Article 42.0183(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, applies only to a judgment of conviction entered on or after the effective date of this Act or a grant of deferred adjudication made on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.