Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2933 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2933
2		-	(In the Senate - Filed March 14, 2025; April 7, 2025, read
3		-	first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence;
4		-	April 30, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
5		-	Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 30, 2025,
6		-	sent to printer.)
7		-	Click here to see the committee vote
8		-	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2933 By: Hughes
9	2
10	3
11	4
12	5
13	6		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
14	7		AN ACT
15		-	relating to judicial training requirements regarding elder abuse
16		-	and neglect.
	8	+	relating to elder abuse training for judges.
17	9		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
18		-	SECTION 1. The heading to Section 22.110, Government Code,
19		-	is amended to read as follows:
20		-	Sec. 22.110. JUDICIAL INSTRUCTION RELATED TO FAMILY
21		-	VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS, AND CHILD AND
22		-	ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
23		-	SECTION 2. Sections 22.110(a), (b), and (d), Government
24		-	Code, are amended to read as follows:
25		-	(a) The court of criminal appeals shall assure that judicial
26		-	training related to the problems of family violence, sexual
27		-	assault, trafficking of persons, [and] child abuse and neglect, and
28		-	elder abuse and neglect is provided.
	10	+	SECTION 22.110, Government Code, is amended by adding
	11	+	Subsection (b) to read as follows:
29	12		(b) The court of criminal appeals shall adopt the rules
30	13		necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section. The rules
31	14		must require:
32	15		(1) each district judge, judge of a statutory county
33	16		court, associate judge appointed under Chapter 54A of this code or
34	17		Chapter 201, Family Code, master, referee, and magistrate within
35	18		the judge's first term of office or the judicial officer's first
36	19		four years of service to complete and provide certification of
37	20		completion of 12 hours of training that include at least:
38	21		(A) four hours dedicated to issues related to
39		-	trafficking of persons, [and] child abuse and neglect, and elder
40		-	abuse and neglect that cover at least two of the topics described in
41		-	Subsections (d)(8) through (12) and (d)(14) [(d)(8)-(12)];
	22	+	trafficking of persons and child abuse and neglect that cover at
	23	+	least two of the topics described in Subsections (d)(8) (12)(14);
42	24		(B) six hours dedicated to the training described
43	25		by Subsections (d)(5), (6), and (7); and
44	26		(C) one hour dedicated to the training described
45	27		by Subsection (d)(13);
46	28		(2) each judge and judicial officer during each
47	29		additional term in office or four years of service to complete and
48	30		provide certification of completion of an additional five hours of
49	31		training that include at least:
50	32		(A) two hours dedicated to the training described
51	33		by Subsections (d)(11) and (12); and
52	34		(B) one hour dedicated to the training described
53	35		by Subsection (d)(13); and
54	36		(3) each judge of a court with primary responsibility
55	37		for family law or family violence matters to complete and provide
56	38		certification of completion of an additional hour of training
57	39		described by Subsection (d)(13) every two years.
	40	+	(c) In adopting the rules, the court of criminal appeals may
	41	+	consult with the supreme court and with professional groups and
	42	+	associations in the state that have expertise in the subject matter
	43	+	to obtain the recommendations of those groups or associations for
	44	+	instruction content.
58	45		(d) The instruction must include information about:
59	46		(1) statutory and case law relating to videotaping a
60	47		child's testimony and relating to competency of children to
61	48		testify;
62	49		(2) methods for eliminating the trauma to the child
63	50		caused by the court process;
64	51		(3) case law, statutory law, and procedural rules
65	52		relating to family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of
66	53		persons, and child abuse and neglect;
67	54		(4) methods for providing protection for victims of
68	55		family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, and child
69	56		abuse and neglect;
70	57		(5) available community and state resources for
71	58		counseling and other aid to victims and to offenders;
72	59		(6) gender bias in the judicial process;
73	60		(7) dynamics and effects of being a victim of sexual
74	61		assault, trafficking of persons, or child abuse and neglect;
75	62		(8) dynamics of sexual abuse of children, including
76	63		child abuse accommodation syndrome and grooming;
77	64		(9) impact of substance abuse on an unborn child and on
78	65		a person's ability to care for a child;
79	66		(10) issues of attachment and bonding between children
80	67		and caregivers;
81	68		(11) issues of child development that pertain to
82	69		trafficking of persons and child abuse and neglect;
83	70		(12) medical findings regarding physical abuse,
84	71		sexual abuse, trafficking of persons, and child abuse and neglect;
85		-	[and]
86		-	(13) dynamics of family violence; and
87		-	(14) elder abuse and neglect.
88		-	SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
89		-	date of this Act, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals shall adopt
90		-	the rules necessary to implement Section 22.110, Government Code,
91		-	as amended by this Act.
92		-	(b) Section 22.110, Government Code, as amended by this Act,
93		-	applies to all judges, masters, referees, and magistrates elected,
94		-	appointed, or holding office on or after the effective date of this
95		-	Act.
96		-	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
97		-	* * * * *
	72	+	and
	73	+	(13) dynamics of family violence.; and
	74	+	(14) elder abuse.
	75	+	SECTION 2.(a) As soon as practicable after the effective
	76	+	date of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall adopt the rules
	77	+	necessary to implement Section 22.110, Government Code, as added by
	78	+	this Act.
	79	+	(b) The changes in law made by Section 22.110, Government
	80	+	Code, as added by this Act, apply to all judges elected, appointed,
	81	+	or holding office on or after the effective date of this Act.
	82	+	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.