BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1343

By: Leach

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that an offender who is required to register as a sex offender is prohibited from contacting their victim or their victim's family if the victim was under 17 at the time the crime was committed. H.B. 1343 seeks to shield more victims of sex-related crimes from having to endure such unwanted and inappropriate interactions.

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. 1343 amends the Penal Code to expand the conduct that constitutes the offense of improper contact with a victim by an actor confined in a correctional facility after being charged with or convicted of an offense for which conviction or adjudication is reportable under the sex offender registration program to include contact with a victim of such an offense who was 17 years of age or older at the time of the commission of the offense, or a member of the victim's family, if the director of the correctional facility has not received a written and dated consent to the contact from the victim and provided the actor with a copy of the consent before the actor makes contact with the victim.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.