HBA-MPM H.B. 354 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 354
By: Allen
Public Safety
3/13/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas does not maintain a public information system that
provides information to the public regarding felony fugitives.  Many times
tips from the general public have led law enforcement officials to
apprehend fugitives who might otherwise remain at large. House Bill 354
requires the Department of Public Safety to establish a free, online
database of all felony fugitives in Texas that is accessible to the public. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 354 amends the Government Code to entitle any person to obtain
from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) information relating to each
fugitive from justice for whom a felony arrest warrant has been issued,
other than information DPS determines would hinder efforts to apprehend or
prosecute the fugitive. The bill requires DPS to make information relating
to fugitives from justice available to the public in a nocost, online
computer database format and to make such information available no later
than January 1, 2002. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.