BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1496

By: Metcalf

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

While protections shielding the release of information relating to juvenile criminal cases often prove beneficial, it has been suggested that these protections inadvertently extend to information that may affect school safety. Concerns have been raised that law enforcement may not always share information with school districts when a potential threat of school violence is made by a juvenile. H.B. 1496 seeks to address this issue by providing for the sharing of information upon a potential threat of school violence.

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. 1496 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to require a law enforcement officer who receives a report or finds evidence that suggests a person may be contemplating committing an act of school violence at a public school in Texas to deliver as soon as practicable written notice of the threat to the superintendent of the affected school or a person designated by the superintendent. The bill requires the superintendent or designated person, on receiving the notice, to notify appropriate instructional and support personnel and requires the personnel to keep the information confidential.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.