BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 581

By: Whitmire

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties are concerned that the law relating to a name change for an adult has the effect of penalizing certain persons who have used names other than their birth names for the vast majority of their lives. S.B. 581 seeks to address this issue by providing additional conditions under which a court may order a change of name for a person with a final felony conviction or a person required to register as a sex offender.

 

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

 

S.B. 581 amends the Family Code to include as a condition under which a court may order a change of name for an adult with a final felony conviction, or for an adult subject to the registration requirements of the sex offender registration program who provides the court with proof that the person has notified the appropriate local law enforcement authority of the proposed name change, a request by the person to change the person's name to the primary name used in the person's criminal history record information.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2017.