H.B. No. 380 proposes amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the statutes of limitations for certain criminal offenses, specifically addressing the offense of improper relationship between educator and student. The bill introduces a new provision that establishes a ten-year statute of limitations for this offense, which is categorized under the same timeframe as other serious crimes such as sexual assault and arson. Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of "reportable conviction or adjudication" to include the offense of improper relationship between educator and student, thereby subjecting it to sex offender registration requirements.
The bill also includes several amendments to existing legal language, such as the deletion of certain offenses from the list of felonies with no statute of limitations and the insertion of new offenses that will now fall under this category. Notably, it removes the previous designation of "tampering with physical evidence" and adds "interference with child custody" and "burglary" under specific conditions. The changes aim to enhance the legal framework surrounding serious offenses and ensure that individuals convicted of such crimes are appropriately registered as sex offenders. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.