BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 961

By: Bettencourt

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that the court system is overburdened with hearings and other proceedings regarding certain minor criminal offenses that would be better resolved outside of the court system. S.B. 961 seeks to address this issue by giving peace officers the discretion of issuing a citation to a person charged with committing a Class B misdemeanor criminal trespass offense instead of taking the person before a magistrate.

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

S.B. 961 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to include a person charged with committing a Class B misdemeanor criminal trespass offense among the persons to whom a peace officer may issue a citation containing notice to appear instead of taking the person before a magistrate.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.