HBA-MSH, MSH H.B. 547 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 547
By: Noriega
Public Safety
3/21/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is required to provide
written notice of the place where certain sex offenders intend to reside on
release from a penal institution to each residential address within a
one-mile radius in an area that has not been subdivided, or a three-block
area in an area that has been subdivided.  However, there may be a large
number of residents in that particular area who may only speak Spanish, and
thus will not be properly informed of the presence of a sex offender if
notice is provided only in English.  House Bill 547 requires DPS to provide
notice in both English and Spanish. 

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 547 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the public
notification requirements for certain sexual offenders.  The bill requires
the Department of Public Safety to  provide such notice in both English and
Spanish. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.