84R11775 GCB-D
By: Farias, Guillen H.B. No. 3729
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to inclusion of family members of veterans court program
participants in the treatment and services provided to the
participants under the program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 124.001(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) In this chapter, "veterans court program" means a
program that has the following essential characteristics:
(1) the integration of services in the processing of
cases in the judicial system;
(2) the use of a nonadversarial approach involving
prosecutors and defense attorneys to promote public safety and to
protect the due process rights of program participants;
(3) early identification and prompt placement of
eligible participants in the program;
(4) access to a continuum of alcohol, controlled
substance, mental health, and other related treatment and
rehabilitative services;
(5) careful monitoring of treatment and services
provided to program participants;
(6) a coordinated strategy to govern program responses
to participants' compliance;
(7) ongoing judicial interaction with program
participants;
(8) monitoring and evaluation of program goals and
effectiveness;
(9) continuing interdisciplinary education to promote
effective program planning, implementation, and operations; [and]
(10) development of partnerships with public agencies
and community organizations, including the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs; and
(11) inclusion of a participant's family members who
agree to be involved in the treatment and services provided to the
participant under the program.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.