84R10319 JSC-D
By: Huffman S.B. No. 1706
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a grant program to fund domestic violence high risk
teams.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 402.038 to read as follows:
Sec. 402.038. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAMS GRANT
PROGRAM. (a) A domestic violence high risk team is a
multidisciplinary team that coordinates efforts to increase the
safety of victims of family violence, as that term is defined by
Section 71.004, Family Code, by monitoring and containing
perpetrators while providing victim services. The team may be
composed of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, community
supervision and corrections departments, victim advocates,
nonprofit organizations that provide services or shelter to victims
of family violence, and medical personnel. The team members work
together to share information and communicate to provide the best
possible responses to victims at high risk.
(b) Using money appropriated for the purpose, the attorney
general may award grants to domestic violence high risk teams in
communities in this state.
(c) The attorney general shall request proposals for the
award of grants under this section. The attorney general shall
evaluate the proposals and award grants based on the need for
domestic violence services in the community in which the team is
located and the effectiveness or potential effectiveness of the
team.
(c-1) In awarding grants under this section, the attorney
general shall prioritize a municipality with a population of more
than 1.18 million and located predominantly in a county that has a
total area of less than 1,000 square miles. This subsection expires
September 1, 2017.
(d) A grant recipient may use grant money received under
this section only to fund the activities of a domestic violence high
risk team in reducing or preventing incidents of domestic violence
and providing domestic violence services to victims.
(e) The attorney general shall establish procedures to
administer the grant program, including a procedure for the
submission of a proposal and a procedure to be used by the attorney
general in evaluating a proposal.
(f) To supplement any appropriations for the grant program,
the attorney general shall apply for any available federal grant
funds for the prevention of domestic violence.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.