House Bill No. 3636 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Government Code to establish new guidelines for the payment of restitution to victims by individuals released on parole or mandatory supervision. A significant change includes the introduction of a three-year timeframe for victims to claim restitution payments. If a victim does not make a claim within this period, or if the clerk is unable to locate the victim for three years after the last payment, any unclaimed restitution will be transferred to the compensation to victims of crimes fund. This replaces the previous five-year timeframe and the presumption of abandonment for unclaimed payments.

Additionally, the bill mandates that when the department transfers restitution payments to a county or clerk, it must include the victim's last known address and a detailed history of past payments made to the victim. This information is deemed confidential and not subject to public disclosure. The bill also emphasizes the importance of timely communication between the department and the court clerk to ensure victims receive their entitled payments efficiently. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 493.035, Government Code 508.322 (Government Code 508, Government Code 493)
House Committee Report: Government Code 493.035, Government Code 508.322 (Government Code 508, Government Code 493)