BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 502 By: Flores Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, victims of an offense of invasive visual recording or indecent assault are not authorized to choose a pseudonym to be used instead of their name in all public files and records concerning the offense. However, current law does provide such an authorization for victims of offenses that are similar to the offenses of invasive visual recording or indecent assault. The bill's author has informed the committee of a case in which the Travis County District Attorney's Office prosecuted an invasive visual recording offense involving a female victim who was filmed by a coworker while pumping at her workplace. Despite the fact that the prosecution of the offense requires the disclosure of very revealing and intimate details about the victim, the victim did not qualify for the designation of a pseudonym. Subsequent conversations with victim witness counselors at the Travis County District Attorney's Office revealed that victims of indecent assault also often request a pseudonym, yet do not currently qualify for one. Additionally, rejecting the request of a victim of an invasive recording or indecent assault for a pseudonym may subject that victim to additional psychological harm and emotional distress and may otherwise deter the victim from wanting to move forward with the case. H.B. 502 seeks to address this issue by authorizing victims of invasive visual recording and indecent assault to elect to use a pseudonym in cases alleging such offenses. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 502 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to make provisions relating to the confidentiality of identifying information of victims of stalking applicable to a person who is the subject of an offense that allegedly constitutes indecent assault or invasive visual recording or an offense that is part of the same criminal episode as such an offense. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 502
By: Flores
Criminal Jurisprudence
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 502
By: Flores
Criminal Jurisprudence
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, victims of an offense of invasive visual recording or indecent assault are not authorized to choose a pseudonym to be used instead of their name in all public files and records concerning the offense. However, current law does provide such an authorization for victims of offenses that are similar to the offenses of invasive visual recording or indecent assault. The bill's author has informed the committee of a case in which the Travis County District Attorney's Office prosecuted an invasive visual recording offense involving a female victim who was filmed by a coworker while pumping at her workplace. Despite the fact that the prosecution of the offense requires the disclosure of very revealing and intimate details about the victim, the victim did not qualify for the designation of a pseudonym. Subsequent conversations with victim witness counselors at the Travis County District Attorney's Office revealed that victims of indecent assault also often request a pseudonym, yet do not currently qualify for one. Additionally, rejecting the request of a victim of an invasive recording or indecent assault for a pseudonym may subject that victim to additional psychological harm and emotional distress and may otherwise deter the victim from wanting to move forward with the case. H.B. 502 seeks to address this issue by authorizing victims of invasive visual recording and indecent assault to elect to use a pseudonym in cases alleging such offenses.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 502 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to make provisions relating to the confidentiality of identifying information of victims of stalking applicable to a person who is the subject of an offense that allegedly constitutes indecent assault or invasive visual recording or an offense that is part of the same criminal episode as such an offense.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, victims of an offense of invasive visual recording or indecent assault are not authorized to choose a pseudonym to be used instead of their name in all public files and records concerning the offense. However, current law does provide such an authorization for victims of offenses that are similar to the offenses of invasive visual recording or indecent assault. The bill's author has informed the committee of a case in which the Travis County District Attorney's Office prosecuted an invasive visual recording offense involving a female victim who was filmed by a coworker while pumping at her workplace. Despite the fact that the prosecution of the offense requires the disclosure of very revealing and intimate details about the victim, the victim did not qualify for the designation of a pseudonym. Subsequent conversations with victim witness counselors at the Travis County District Attorney's Office revealed that victims of indecent assault also often request a pseudonym, yet do not currently qualify for one. Additionally, rejecting the request of a victim of an invasive recording or indecent assault for a pseudonym may subject that victim to additional psychological harm and emotional distress and may otherwise deter the victim from wanting to move forward with the case. H.B. 502 seeks to address this issue by authorizing victims of invasive visual recording and indecent assault to elect to use a pseudonym in cases alleging such offenses.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 502 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to make provisions relating to the confidentiality of identifying information of victims of stalking applicable to a person who is the subject of an offense that allegedly constitutes indecent assault or invasive visual recording or an offense that is part of the same criminal episode as such an offense.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.