Honorable Carol Alvarado, Chair, House Committee on Urban Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB387 by Murphy (Relating to the authority of general-law municipalities to restrict sex offenders from child safety zones in the municipality.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Local Government Code to permit the governing body of certain municipalities to restrict, by ordinance, a registered sex offender from going in, on, or within a specified distance of a child safety zone in the municipality. The bill would permit an ordinance to establish a distance requirement of not more than 1,000 feet. The bill provides definitions and an affirmative defense to prosecution of an offense under the ordinance. Under the provisions of the bill, the ordinance could establish procedures for a registered sex offender to apply for and receive an exemption from the ordinance. The bill would require an ordinance to exempt a registered sex offender who established residency located within the specified distance before the date the ordinance was adopted.
According to the Office of Court Administration, no significant impact to the state court system is anticipated.
The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of each house. If the bill does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, it would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Municipal League, many home rule cities have ordinances such as described in the bill and additional authority for general law cities would not have a significant fiscal impact to local government.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council