HBA-JEK H.B. 1658 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1658
By: Ritter
Corrections
67/10/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, a court was not required to notify the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) when charges against a convicted
defendant or inmate transferred to TDCJ were subsequently dismissed.
Because some courts did not inform TDCJ when charges were dropped, some
inmates were incarcerated longer than necessary while TDCJ confirmed that
the inmate was free to be released.  House Bill 1658 requires a court to
inform TDCJ when charges against a defendant or inmate transferred to TDCJ
are dismissed. 

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 1658 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to require a county
that transfers a defendant or inmate to the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice (TDCJ) to immediately notify an officer designated by TDCJ of any
subsequent dismissal of the charges on which the defendant or inmate was
convicted and transferred. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

June 8, 2001.