BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 3647

By: Guillen

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

There are concerns about unnecessary and repeated language in the law concerning the confidentiality of a child's criminal records related to certain misdemeanor offenses. H.B. 3647 seeks to ensure the confidentiality of those records by removing that language.

 

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. 3647 reenacts and amends Articles 44.2811 and 45.0217, Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by Chapters 1319 (S.B. 394) and 1407 (S.B. 393), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, to conform to changes made by Chapter 1257 (H.B. 528), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, and make confidential and prohibit public disclosure of all records, files, and information stored by electronic means or otherwise, from which a record or file could be generated, relating to a child who is charged with or convicted of a fine-only misdemeanor other than a traffic offense or whose conviction for such an offense is appealed, except as otherwise authorized.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2019.