HBA-DMD S.B. 565 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 565
By: Jackson
Public Safety
5/5/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is no unit within the Department of Public Safety
(department) that specifically monitors the compliance of sex offenders as
designated in statute. As of February 1999, there have been 16,404 sex
offenders registered with the Texas Sex Offender registration and
notification program. S.B. 565 creates a sex offender compliance unit in
the department. This bill requires the sex offender compliance unit to
investigate and arrest individuals determined to have committed a sexually
violent offense. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Department of Public Safety in
SECTION 1 (Section 411.0098, Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, by adding
Section 411.0098, as follows: 

Sec. 411.0098. SEX OFFENDER COMPLIANCE UNIT. Requires the public safety
director to create a sex offender compliance unit to be operated by the
Department of Public Safety (department). Requires the sex offender
compliance unit to investigate and arrest individuals determined to have
committed a sexually violent offense, as defined by Article 62.01
(Definitions), Code of Criminal Procedure. Authorizes the legislature to
appropriate funds to the department from the fugitive apprehension account
for the purpose of paying the costs to the department of implementing this
section. Authorizes the department to adopt rules as necessary to implement
this section. 

SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999, except as provided by Section
3 of this Act. 

SECTION 3.Provides that this Act takes effect only if a specific
appropriation for the implementation of this Act is provided in H.B. No. 1
(General Appropriations Act), Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1999. Provides that if no specific appropriation is provided in
H.B. No. 1, this Act has no effect. 

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.