Committee passes a package of public-safety bills; quick roundup of actions
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Summary
The Senate Public Safety Committee moved several bills forward in a single hearing, including measures on cold-case review requests, faster processing of sexual-assault kits, reporting of assault reports to OSBI, parole process changes, statutory cleanup, and private-prison inspections; roll-call tallies are provided.
The Senate Public Safety Committee held a multi-item session and recorded committee passage on multiple bills. Key outcomes:
- SB 1636 (Hicks): Allows an immediate family member or similar individual of a cold-case victim to request an investigation by OSBI. Passed in committee by recorded roll call 8–0.
- SB 1584 (Burns): Requires standardized sexual-assault evidence kits be submitted for forensic testing within 10 calendar days (rather than 20) and processed by the receiving accredited lab within 30 days of receipt. Sponsor cited current average processing at approximately four to six months. Passed 8–0.
- SB 1730 (Thompson): Requires law-enforcement reports of sexual assault be passed to OSBI so officers can identify repeat offenders; testimony clarified the bill is about sharing existing police reports and not creating a new public database. Passed 8–0.
- SB 1255 (Yek): Grants the medical director at DOC authority to request medical parole (previously the director’s authority); committee recorded 8 ayes and 1 nay and declared the bill passed.
- SB 1627 (Pro Tem Paxton): Attorney General request bill consolidating redundant criminal statutes (statutory cleanup); passed 9–0.
- SB 1470 (Brooks): Amended to narrow scope to privately operated, out-of-state-run private prison facilities; adopted amendment by voice vote and passed committee 8–0.
Each motion, amendment and vote was made on the committee record; sponsors indicated follow-up work or amendment language will be prepared on several items before floor consideration.