BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2058

By: Hernandez

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the optimal use of assets seized from human traffickers through criminal asset forfeiture. It has been suggested that these funds should be used to support assistance programs for trafficking victims in Texas. H.B. 2058 seeks to address this issue by providing for the use of proceeds from criminal asset forfeiture in relation to county or municipal programs offering services to domestic victims of trafficking.

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. 2058 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to authorize an attorney representing the state or the head of a law enforcement agency to use any portion of the gross amount credited to the attorney's or agency's special fund from the sale of certain forfeited property to cover the costs of a contract with a municipal or county program to provide services to domestic victims of trafficking, if a local agreement regarding the disposition of criminal asset forfeiture exists between the attorney and law enforcement agencies.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.