BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3051

By: King, Phil

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties are concerned that state law regarding the collection of race and ethnicity data does not conform to nationally recognized standards and contend that conforming to these standards will help ensure reporting accuracy and minimize confusion in understanding the data. H.B. 3051 seeks to address this issue by redefining the term "race or ethnicity" for purposes of law enforcement policy on racial profiling and certain court records submitted to the Department of Public Safety.

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. 3051 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Transportation Code to change the definition of "race or ethnicity," for purposes of law enforcement policy on racial profiling and for purposes of court records submitted to the Department of Public Safety in cases in which a person is charged with a violation of law regulating the operation of vehicles on highways, respectively, from being of a particular descent, including Caucasian, African, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or Middle Eastern descent to the following categories: Alaska native or American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander, black, white, and Hispanic or Latino.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.