BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 523

By: Zaffirini

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that the work of parole and probation officers in Texas often places them at risk of retaliation or harassment from persons under supervision or criminal offenders they have testified against in court. S.B. 523 seeks to enhance these officers' personal safety by preventing their home addresses from being publicly accessible by allowing a parole officer to use a business address on their Texas driver's license or Texas identification card, providing them with the same level of protection that is already afforded to other law enforcement and judicial officials.

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. 523 amends the Transportation Code to extend to a parole officer or a probation officer that moves to a new office address the requirement for a holder of a driver's license that includes an alternative address that moves to a new residence to notify, not later than the 30th day after the date of an address change or name change by marriage or otherwise, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and provide DPS with the number of the person's driver's license and, as applicable, the person's former and new addresses or former and new names. The bill requires DPS to accept as an alternative address the address of an office of the parole officer or probation officer, as applicable.

S.B. 523 defines "probation officer" as a law enforcement professional that supervises individuals placed on probation and defines "parole officer" by reference as a person appointed by the director of the pardons and paroles division and assigned the duties of assessment of risks and needs, investigation, case management, and supervision of releasees to ensure that releasees are complying with the conditions of parole or mandatory supervision.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.