Bill Text: TX SB855 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to judicial training requirements regarding family violence.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-29 - Effective on 9/1/23 [SB855 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB855-Introduced.html
  88R6370 JTZ-D
 
  By: Alvarado, LaMantia S.B. No. 855
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to continuing judicial training regarding family violence
  victims.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 22.110(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The court of criminal appeals shall adopt the rules
  necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section.  The rules
  must:
               (1)  require each district judge, judge of a statutory
  county court, associate judge appointed under Chapter 54A of this
  code or Chapter 201, Family Code, master, referee, and magistrate
  to complete [at least 12 hours of the training] within the judge's
  first term of office or the judicial officer's first four years of
  service and provide [a method for] certification of completion of
  at least 12 hours of [that] training that includes:
                     (A)  at[. At] least four hours [of the training
  must be] dedicated to issues related to trafficking of persons and
  child abuse and neglect that cover [and must cover] at least two of
  the topics described in Subsections (d)(8)-(12); and
                     (B)  at[. At] least six hours [of the training
  must be] dedicated to the training described by Subsections (d)(5),
  (6), and (7);
               (2)  [. The rules must] require each judge and judicial
  officer to complete [an additional five hours of training] during
  each additional term in office or four years of service an
  additional five hours of training that includes:
                     (A)  at[. At] least two hours [of the additional
  training must be] dedicated to issues related to trafficking of
  persons and child abuse and neglect; and
                     (B)  at least one hour dedicated to the dynamics
  of and effects on victims of family violence;
               (3)  require each judge of a court having primary
  responsibility for or giving preference to family law or family
  violence matters to complete an additional two hours of training
  every two years dedicated to the dynamics of and effects on victims
  of family violence; and
               (4)  [. The rules must] exempt from the training
  requirement of this subsection each judge or judicial officer who
  files an affidavit stating that the judge or judicial officer does
  not hear any cases involving family violence, sexual assault,
  trafficking of persons, or child abuse and neglect.
         SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
  Court of Criminal Appeals shall adopt the rules necessary to
  provide the training required under Section 22.110, Government
  Code, as amended by this Act.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 22.110, Government Code, as
  amended by this Act, a judge, master, referee, or magistrate who is
  in office on the effective date of this Act must complete the
  training required by Section 22.110, Government Code, as amended by
  this Act, as applicable, not later than December 1, 2025.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
feedback