84R9320 YDB-D
By: White of Tyler H.B. No. 1564
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of judicial donation trust funds to
assist needy children and families appearing before justice and
municipal courts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 36 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 36. JUDICIAL DONATION TRUST FUNDS
Sec. 36.001. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST FUNDS. (a) The
governing body of a municipality or the commissioners court of a
county may establish a judicial donation trust fund as a separate
account held outside the municipal or county treasury to be used in
accordance with this chapter.
(b) The governing body of a municipality or the
commissioners court of a county may accept a gift, grant, donation,
or other consideration from a public or private source that is
designated for the judicial donation trust fund.
(c) Money received under Subsection (b) shall be deposited
in the judicial donation trust fund and may only be disbursed in
accordance with this chapter.
(d) Interest and income from the assets of the judicial
donation trust fund shall be credited to and deposited in the trust
fund.
Sec. 36.002. PROCEDURES AND ELIGIBILITY. The governing
body of a municipality or the commissioners court of a county shall:
(1) adopt the procedures necessary to receive and
disburse money from the judicial donation trust fund under this
chapter; and
(2) establish eligibility requirements for
disbursement of money under this chapter to assist needy children
or families who appear before a justice or municipal court for a
criminal offense, as applicable, by providing money for resources
and services that eliminate barriers to school attendance or that
seek to prevent criminal behavior.
Sec. 36.003. USE OF FUNDS IN ACCOUNT. (a) The judge of a
justice or municipal court, in accordance with Section 36.002, may
award money from a judicial donation trust fund established under
Section 36.001 to eligible children or families who appear before
the court for a truancy or curfew violation or in another
misdemeanor offense proceeding before the court.
(b) A judge of a justice or municipal court may order the
municipal or county treasurer to issue payment from the judicial
donation trust fund for money awarded under this section.
SECTION 2. Section 81.032, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 81.032. ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS. The
commissioners court may accept a gift, grant, donation, bequest, or
devise of money or other property on behalf of the county, including
a donation under Chapter 36, Government Code, for the purpose of
performing a function conferred by law on the county or a county
officer.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.