HBA-AMW H.B. 138 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 138 By: Goolsby Criminal Jurisprudence 1/31/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System, is an electronic database of DNA profiles that can identify suspects. Every state in the nation is in the process of implementing a DNA index of individuals convicted of certain crimes, such as sexual assault, murder, and child abuse. Law enforcement officers now have the ability to identify possible suspects when no prior suspect existed. Under current law, the statute of limitations for sexual assault is five years. DNA technology provides the possibility of linking the suspect to the offense after the five-year limit. House Bill 138 increases the statute of limitations on sexual assault from five years to 10 years. 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 138 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to increase the statute of limitations on presenting a felony indictment for sexual assault from five years to 10 years from the date of the commission of the offense. If the victim is a person younger than 17 years of age who is not the spouse of the actor, the limitations on presenting the indictment remain 10 years from the victim's 18th birthday. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.