BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3067

By: Jones, Venton

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, school and university peace officers are not authorized to obtain search warrants for evidence from social media and cell phone companies. Without the ability to obtain such evidence, investigations that occur in schools or universities are jeopardized and can take more time to process and resolve accurately. H.B. 3067 seeks to address this issue by expanding the class of peace officers authorized to obtain this critical information.

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. 3067 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to expand the definition of "authorized peace officer" for purposes of statutory provisions relating to the installation and use of tracking equipment and access to certain communications to include an officer commissioned as a peace officer by a public school district board of trustees, a governing board of a state institution of higher education, public technical institute, or a private institution of higher education, including private junior colleges.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.