86R9327 YDB-D
By: Neave H.B. No. 1531
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a specialty court for sexual assault
victim services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 2, Government Code, is amended by adding
Subtitle K-1 to read as follows:
SUBTITLE K-1. SPECIALTY COURTS FOR VICTIMS
CHAPTER 141. SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES COURT PROGRAM
Sec. 141.001. SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES COURT PROGRAM
DEFINED. In this chapter, "sexual assault victim services court
program" means a program that has the following essential
characteristics:
(1) the integration of services provided by public
agencies and community organizations for victims in sexual assault
cases;
(2) the use of prosecutors with experience in
prosecuting sexual assault cases;
(3) early identification and prompt placement of
eligible victims in the program;
(4) access by victims to counseling and other related
services provided by public agencies and community organizations;
(5) development of partnerships with public agencies
and community organizations;
(6) monitoring and evaluation of program goals and
effectiveness;
(7) continuing interdisciplinary education to promote
effective program planning, implementation, and operations; and
(8) inclusion of a participant's family members who
agree to be involved in the services provided to the participant
under the program.
Sec. 141.002. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH PROGRAM; ELIGIBILITY.
(a) The commissioners court of a county may establish a sexual
assault victim services court program for participants who are
victims of an alleged sexual assault in which a person is arrested
for or charged with an offense under Chapter 21 or 22, Penal Code.
(b) The local administrative judge, for the courts for which
the judge serves as local administrative judge, may select a court
in the county for assignment of cases described by Subsection (a).
The prosecuting attorney for the court must have experience in
prosecuting sexual assault offenses under Chapter 21 or 22, Penal
Code.
Sec. 141.003. DUTIES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES
COURT PROGRAM. (a) A sexual assault victim services court program
established under this chapter must:
(1) ensure that a victim eligible for participation in
the program volunteers to proceed through the program; and
(2) allow a participant to withdraw from the program
at any time.
(b) A sexual assault victim services court program
established under this chapter shall make, establish, and publish
local procedures to ensure maximum participation of eligible
victims in the county.
Sec. 141.004. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. A county may
accept a gift, grant, donation, or bequest of money, services,
equipment, goods, or other tangible or intangible property from any
source for the sexual assault victim services court program.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.