BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 691

By: White

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The disclosure of criminal history information can significantly impact an individual's ability to obtain employment, housing, or otherwise reenter the community successfully. However, under state law, certain repeat offenders are ineligible for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history, which makes such rehabilitation and reentry particularly difficult. H.B. 691 seeks to address this issue by removing the condition that an individual who has been previously convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for certain offenses is ineligible for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information.

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. 691 amends the Government Code to revise provisions relating to the eligibility of certain criminal defendants for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information by removing provisions making a person who has been placed on deferred adjudication community supervision or community supervision for or been convicted of certain misdemeanors ineligible for an order of nondisclosure if the person has been previously convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for another offense.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.