Bill > HB2956

This bill establishes a new Family Violence Registration Program that requires individuals convicted of or granted deferred adjudication for certain family violence offenses to register with local law enforcement authorities. The program mandates that the Department of Public Safety create and maintain a central computerized database containing information about offenders who were 17 years or older at the time of the offense. Registrants must provide updates to their location annually, every 90 days if they are considered a high-risk repeat offender, or every 30 days if they lack a permanent address. The database will be publicly accessible and will include a recent photograph of the offender, updated annually. Registrants must notify authorities within five days of changing their address, and the system will track compliance and potentially monitor whether registrants are attending institutions of higher education. Local law enforcement can provide public notice about registrants through various methods like newspaper announcements or neighborhood meetings. Failing to comply with registration requirements will be a Class C misdemeanor. The bill allows offenders to petition for an exemption from registration if a court determines it is in the best interest of justice. The program will only be implemented once sufficient funding is secured through gifts, grants, or donations, and it will initially apply only to offenses committed on or after the bill's effective date.

Military Affairs and Security

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2956