HBA-TBM C.S.H.B. 2239 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2239
By: Salinas
Public Safety
4/10/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Sex Offender Registration Program imposes requirements on the
Department of Public Safety (DPS), local law enforcement authorities
(authorities), and persons required by law to register as sex offenders
(offender).  DPS is required to maintain a central sex offender database
containing identification information about offenders.  An offender is
required to renew a driver's license or identification card annually and to
register with authorities.  Authorities are required to provide all sex
offender registration information to DPS.  Currently, there is no standard
format for photo images that authorities provide to DPS with sex offender
registration information.  Consequently, some authorities send photos to
DPS that are not usable.  C.S.H.B. 2239 requires DPS to use photographs
obtained from driver's license or identification card applications or
renewals by offenders to maintain the database.   

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

C.S.H.B. 2239 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the use of
photographs on the state's sex offender database.  The bill requires the
Department of Public Safety (DPS) to use the photograph obtained through
the driver's license or identification card application or renewal process
for the purpose of posting a photograph of a sex offender on the central
sex offender database (database), including the database accessible via
DPS's Internet website.  The bill provides that the database be updated
annually or as new photographs are obtained through driver's license or
identification card renewals.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

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

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2239 conforms the original to Texas Legislative Council style and
format.  The substitute also changes the effective date from the 91st day
after adjournment to on passage or September 1, 2001.