Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1371

Voted on by House
 
Out of Senate Committee
 
Voted on by Senate
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to the dissemination of criminal history record information by the Department of Public Safety concerning certain intoxication offenses.

Impact

If enacted, HB 1371 will significantly change the way information regarding intoxication offenses is disseminated to the public. It aims to improve transparency and potentially inform community safety initiatives by enabling citizens to easily obtain relevant criminal histories. The proposed website will include personal details such as the individual's full name, known aliases, last known address, and a physical description. The availability of this information may also aid law enforcement efforts during routine stops or investigations involving individuals with such convictions.

Summary

House Bill 1371 aims to enhance public access to criminal history record information specifically concerning certain intoxication offenses, such as driving while intoxicated (DWI). The bill amends the Government Code to provide that individuals can access records related to convictions and deferred adjudications occurring within the past ten years for these offenses. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) will be tasked with implementing and maintaining an online platform that will facilitate this access, allowing searches by various criteria including zip code and the name of the individual.

Contention

There may be concerns regarding privacy and the potential stigma associated with having a criminal history publicly accessible. Critics of the bill might argue that while public safety is important, exposing individuals to public scrutiny for past offenses could have lasting detrimental effects on their reintegration into society. Furthermore, stakeholders might debate the appropriate balance between the public's right to know and an individual's right to privacy, particularly concerning sensitive information. The bill outlines provisions to protect certain private details such as social security numbers and information identifying victims of offenses.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Government Code

  • Chapter 411. Department Of Public Safety Of The State Of Texas
    • Section: 135
    • Section: New Section

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX HB1720

Relating to the dissemination of criminal history record information by the Department of Public Safety concerning certain intoxication offenses.

TX SB1785

Relating to the dissemination of criminal history record information by the Department of Public Safety.

TX HB2300

Relating to the eligibility of certain criminal defendants for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information.

TX SB324

Relating to changing the eligibility for community supervision for certain repeat intoxication offenders.

TX HB4123

Relating to access to and use of certain criminal history record information.

TX HB4362

Relating to the eligibility of certain criminal defendants for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information.

TX SB1628

Relating to the eligibility of certain criminal defendants for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information.

TX HB93

Relating to changing the eligibility for community supervision and parole for certain repeat intoxication offenders.

TX HB283

Relating to the eligibility of certain criminal defendants for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information.

TX SB1383

Relating to the eligibility of certain criminal defendants for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.