| 5 | 3 | | |
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| 6 | 4 | | |
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| 7 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 7 | | relating to representation for an indigent person subject to a |
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| 10 | 8 | | civil commitment proceeding. |
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| 11 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 841.005, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 13 | 11 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 12 | | Sec. 841.005. TEXAS BOARD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE [OFFICE OF |
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| 15 | 13 | | STATE COUNSEL FOR OFFENDERS]. (a) In this section, "board" means |
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| 16 | 14 | | the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. |
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| 17 | 15 | | (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c) [(b)], the board |
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| 18 | 16 | | [Office of State Counsel for Offenders] shall provide |
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| 19 | 17 | | representation for [represent] an indigent person subject to a |
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| 20 | 18 | | civil commitment proceeding under this chapter. |
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| 21 | 19 | | (c) [(b)] If for any reason the board [Office of State |
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| 22 | 20 | | Counsel for Offenders] is unable to provide representation for |
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| 23 | 21 | | [represent] an indigent person described by Subsection (b) [(a)] at |
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| 24 | 22 | | a civil commitment proceeding under this chapter, the court shall |
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| 25 | 23 | | appoint other counsel to represent the indigent person. |
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| 26 | 24 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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