Bill: HB 1064, 84(R) - 2015

Committee

House Criminal Jurisprudence

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral Neutral

Author(s)

J.D. Sheffield

Bill Caption

Relating to prohibiting certain sex offenders from working or residing within or otherwise going in, on, or within a certain distance of premises where children commonly gather; providing a penalty.

Fiscal Notes

The Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Office of Court Administration indicate the bill's provisions would not result in significant fiscal impact to the state. This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill would not result in significant impact on state correctional agencies.

Bill Analysis

HB 1064 would allow require a judge who grants community supervision to sexual offender under this chapter, as a condition of their supervision to not work or reside within, or go in, on, or within a child safety zone.

HB 1064 defines a "child safety zone" as: any area located within 1,000 feet from the nearest property line of a premises where children commonly gather, including: a public or private school, a day-care or other child-care facility, a playground, a public or private youth center, a public or private youth soccer, football, or baseball field, a crisis center or shelter, a skate park or skating rink, a movie theater, a bowling alley, a Boy Scout or Girl Scout facility, a location that regularly provides athletic, civic, or cultural activities that include as participants persons who are 17 years of age or younger, a child protective services facility, an indoor or outdoor amusement center or amusement park, a carnival, circus, or fair, a public, commercial, or semiprivate swimming pool, a public park, a public library, or an amusement or video arcade facility. 

A sexual offender under this bill who resides in a child safety zone would be allowed to remain at their residence if they resided their on September 1, 2015 or Athe defendant is residing at the residence at the time that a child safety zone is established for or extended to an area that contains the residence.

The provisions of HB 1064 apply only to a person who is required to register under this chapter because of one or more reportable convictions or adjudications for a sexually violent offense involving a victim younger than 17 years of age and is not enrolled as a student at a public or private primary or secondary school. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

HB 1064 seeks to provide a uniform definition of "child safety zone" for judges granting community supervision to sexual offenders under this chapter. We are remaining neutral on HB 1064, since the bill addresses a legitimate public safety issue but allows the court to exercise discretion on this matter.

Source URL (retrieved on 04/20/2024 08:04 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/84r/hb1064?print_view=true