AUSTIN -- The emergency management director for Texas says Texans who board evacuation buses during hurricanes or other emergencies must first submit to criminal background checks.

Jack Colley says it's an attempt to keep sex offenders and fugitives from boarding evacuation buses with children, the elderly and the disabled.

He says sex offenders or other criminals will be evacuated -- but on different buses.

The intent is to make sure vulnerable residents aren't victimized during the evacuation process.

Colley also says that state officials will be able to segregate undesirable evacuees, even in the chaos of an emergency.

After Hurricane Katrina, about 1,700 parolees didn't check in with authorities in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.