BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 998

By: West

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerned parties note that the current statute of limitations for the offense of exploitation of a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual has often expired or is close to expiring before the case has been discovered or identified by family, legal advocates, or the courts. The goal of S.B. 998 is to extend the statute of limitations for that offense.

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. 998 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to extend the statute of limitations for the offense of exploitation of a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual from three years from the date of the commission of the offense to seven years from the date of the commission of the offense. The bill expressly does not apply to an offense if the prosecution of that offense becomes barred by limitation before the bill's effective date and the prosecution of that offense remains barred as if the bill had not taken effect.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.