81R9775 JSC-F
By: Farias H.B. No. 2114
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a juvenile victim-offender mediation
pilot program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 3, Family Code, is amended by adding
Chapter 62 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 62. JUVENILE VICTIM-OFFENDER MEDIATION PILOT PROGRAM
Sec. 62.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Juvenile Probation
Commission.
(2) "Department" means the Bexar County Juvenile
Probation Department.
(3) "Program" means the juvenile victim-offender
mediation pilot program created under this chapter.
Sec. 62.002. ESTABLISHMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PILOT
PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish a juvenile
victim-offender mediation pilot program for children in Bexar
County using funds appropriated for that purpose.
(b) In implementing the program, the commission shall
require the department to:
(1) establish a resource network on the subject of
victim-offender mediation that includes representatives from the
department, the local dispute resolution center, the juvenile
courts, the district attorney's office, and the local juvenile
defense bar association;
(2) develop the program consistent with best practices
identified by the commission; and
(3) identify outcome measures that may be used to
measure the effectiveness of the program.
Sec. 62.003. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2010, the
department shall submit a report to the commission regarding the
program. The report must include:
(1) a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of
the program; and
(2) the department's findings and recommendations
regarding continuation or expansion of the program.
Sec. 62.004. PROGRAM FUNDING. The commission shall
provide sufficient funds to the department for the program and
report, if funds are appropriated for purposes of this chapter.
Sec. 62.005. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires September 2,
2011.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.