Bill Text: TX HB1531 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to a specialty court program for sexual assault victim services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-17 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB1531 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB1531-Comm_Sub.html

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86R23030 YDB-D
By: Neave H.B. No. 1531
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1531:
By: White C.S.H.B. No. 1531

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a specialty court program for sexual assault victim
services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 2, Government Code, is amended by adding
Subtitle K-1 to read as follows:
SUBTITLE K-1. SPECIALTY COURTS FOR VICTIMS
CHAPTER 141. SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES COURT PROGRAM
Sec. 141.001. SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES COURT PROGRAM
DEFINED. In this chapter, "sexual assault victim services court
program" means a program that has the following essential
characteristics:
(1) the integration of services provided by public
agencies and community organizations for victims in sexual assault
cases;
(2) the use of prosecutors with experience in
prosecuting sexual assault cases and judges with experience in
hearing sexual assault cases;
(3) early identification and prompt assignment of
eligible cases to the court designated under Section 141.002(b);
(4) access by victims to counseling and other related
services provided by public agencies and community organizations;
(5) development of partnerships with public agencies
and community organizations;
(6) monitoring and evaluation of program goals and
effectiveness;
(7) continuing interdisciplinary education to promote
effective program planning, implementation, and operations;
(8) inclusion of a participant's family members who
agree to be involved in the services provided to the participant
under the program;
(9) prosecution of sexual assault offenses;
(10) issuance of orders of protection to victims on
the victim's consent and as authorized by state law; and
(11) continued monitoring of sexual assault
defendants through prosecution and adjudication and for the
duration of an offender's sentence.
Sec. 141.002. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH PROGRAM; ELIGIBILITY.
(a) The commissioners court of a county may establish a sexual
assault victim services court program for participants who are
victims of an alleged sexual assault in which a person is arrested
for or charged with an offense under Chapter 21 or 22, Penal Code.
(b) The local administrative judge, for the courts for which
the judge serves as local administrative judge, may designate a
court in the county for assignment of cases described by Subsection
(a). The judge of the court must have experience hearing sexual
assault cases under Chapter 21 or 22, Penal Code. The prosecuting
attorney for the court must have experience in prosecuting sexual
assault offenses under Chapter 21 or 22, Penal Code.
Sec. 141.003. DUTIES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES
COURT PROGRAM. (a) A sexual assault victim services court program
established under this chapter must:
(1) ensure that a victim eligible for participation in
the program volunteers to proceed through the program; and
(2) allow a participant to withdraw from the program
at any time.
(b) A sexual assault victim services court program
established under this chapter shall make, establish, and publish
local procedures to ensure maximum participation of eligible
victims in the county.
Sec. 141.004. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. A county may
accept a gift, grant, donation, or bequest of money, services,
equipment, goods, or other tangible or intangible property from any
source for the sexual assault victim services court program.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.