Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB944 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	84R8837 KJE-F
2	2	By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 944
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the establishment of a task force to promote uniformity
8	8	in the collection and reporting of information relating to family
9	9	violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Chapter 72, Government Code, is amended by
12	12	adding Subchapter F to read as follows:
13	13	SUBCHAPTER F. TASK FORCE TO PROMOTE UNIFORMITY IN COLLECTION AND
14	14	REPORTING OF INFORMATION ON FAMILY VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT,
15	15	STALKING, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
16	16	Sec. 72.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
17	17	(1) "Family violence" has the meaning assigned by
18	18	Section 71.004, Family Code.
19	19	(2) "Task force" means the task force established
20	20	under this subchapter to promote uniformity in the collection and
21	21	reporting of information relating to family violence, sexual
22	22	assault, stalking, and human trafficking.
23	23	Sec. 72.102. TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP. (a) The task force
24	24	consists of:
25	25	(1) one member from the office, appointed by the
26	26	director;
27	27	(2) 15 members appointed by the presiding officer of
28	28	the task force as follows:
29	29	(A) one member from the bureau of identification
30	30	and records of the Department of Public Safety;
31	31	(B) one member from a statewide family violence
32	32	advocacy organization;
33	33	(C) one member from a statewide sexual assault
34	34	advocacy organization;
35	35	(D) one member who is a prosecuting attorney with
36	36	experience in obtaining protective orders in cases involving family
37	37	violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking;
38	38	(E) one member who is a magistrate with
39	39	experience in issuing orders for emergency protection under Article
40	40	17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure;
41	41	(F) one member who is a judge or an associate
42	42	judge with experience in issuing protective orders in cases
43	43	involving family violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human
44	44	trafficking;
45	45	(G) one member from The University of Texas
46	46	School of Law Domestic Violence Clinic;
47	47	(H) one member who is from an organization that
48	48	receives federal funding under the legal assistance for victims
49	49	grant program and who has expertise in issues related to family
50	50	violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
51	51	(I) two members from a law enforcement agency,
52	52	including one member who is a constable;
53	53	(J) one member from the Texas Center for the
54	54	Judiciary;
55	55	(K) one member from the Texas Municipal Courts
56	56	Education Center;
57	57	(L) one member from the Texas Justice Court
58	58	Training Center;
59	59	(M) one member from the County and District
60	60	Clerks' Association of Texas; and
61	61	(N) one member from the child support division of
62	62	the office of the attorney general; and
63	63	(3) any other member whom the presiding officer
64	64	determines to be appropriate and who consents to serve on the task
65	65	force.
66	66	(b) The presiding officer of the task force is the member
67	67	who represents the office.
68	68	(c) Appointed members of the task force serve at the will of
69	69	the appointing authority. A vacancy on the task force must be
70	70	filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
71	71	Sec. 72.103. MEETINGS; COMPENSATION. (a) The task force
72	72	shall meet at the call of the presiding officer.
73	73	(b) Members of the task force serve without compensation or
74	74	reimbursement for expenses.
75	75	Sec. 72.104. DUTIES. (a) The task force shall:
76	76	(1) solicit and receive reports and testimony from
77	77	individuals, state and local agencies, community-based
78	78	organizations, and other public and private organizations,
79	79	including:
80	80	(A) survivors of family violence, sexual
81	81	assault, stalking, or human trafficking;
82	82	(B) law enforcement officials whose duties
83	83	include submitting information to the Texas Crime Information
84	84	Center;
85	85	(C) individuals with technical expertise in and
86	86	familiarity with the programming and maintenance of the database
87	87	maintained by the Texas Crime Information Center;
88	88	(D) individuals with technical expertise in and
89	89	familiarity with the office's database on family violence; and
90	90	(E) individuals with expertise in issues related
91	91	to family violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking;
92	92	and
93	93	(2) develop policy recommendations and best practices
94	94	guidelines for the uniform collection and reporting of information
95	95	relating to family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human
96	96	trafficking.
97	97	(b) In developing policy recommendations and best practices
98	98	guidelines under Subsection (a)(2), the task force shall examine:
99	99	(1) the findings and recommendations of the "Best
100	100	Practices for Lawyers Representing Survivors of Domestic Violence,
101	101	Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Trafficking in the State of Texas"
102	102	report commissioned by the State Bar of Texas Legal Services
103	103	Support Division's Family Law Task Force;
104	104	(2) best practices regarding uniform data collection
105	105	and reporting; and
106	106	(3) any other studies and reports that the task force
107	107	considers relevant.
108	108	Sec. 72.105. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2016, the
109	109	task force shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant
110	110	governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
111	111	appropriate standing committees of the legislature a report that
112	112	includes:
113	113	(1) a description of the activities of the task force;
114	114	(2) the findings and recommendations of the task
115	115	force, including the policy recommendations and best practices
116	116	guidelines developed by the task force under Section 72.104(a)(2);
117	117	and
118	118	(3) any other matter that the task force considers
119	119	appropriate.
120	120	Sec. 72.106. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The office shall
121	121	provide reasonably necessary administrative and technical support
122	122	for the activities of the task force.
123	123	Sec. 72.107. ASSISTANCE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. The office
124	124	shall seek the assistance of the task force before the office makes
125	125	any recommendation as a result of the work done by the task force.
126	126	Sec. 72.108. EXPIRATION DATE. The task force is abolished
127	127	and this subchapter expires on September 1, 2017.
128	128	SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
129	129	of this Act, the appropriate persons shall appoint the members of
130	130	the task force created by Subchapter F, Chapter 72, Government
131	131	Code, as added by this Act.
132	132	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
133	133	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
134	134	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
135	135	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
136	136	Act takes effect September 1, 2015.