By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2941
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to special needs training for judges.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 22.110, Government Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (b) to read as follows:
(b) The court of criminal appeals shall adopt the rules
necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section. The rules
must require:
(1) each district judge, judge of a statutory county court,
associate judge appointed under Chapter 54A of this code or Chapter
201, Family Code, master, referee, and magistrate within the
judge's first term of office or the judicial officer's first four
years of service to complete and provide certification of
completion of 12 hours of training that include at least:
(A) four hours dedicated to issues related to
trafficking of persons and child abuse and neglect that cover
at least two of the topics described in Subsections
(d)(8)-(12)(14);
(B) six hours dedicated to the training described by
Subsections (d)(5), (6), and (7); and
(C) one hour dedicated to the training described by
Subsection (d)(13);
(2) each judge and judicial officer during each additional
term in office or four years of service to complete and provide
certification of completion of an additional five hours of training
that include at least:
(A) two hours dedicated to the training described by
Subsections (d)(11) and (12); and
(B) one hour dedicated to the training described by
Subsection (d)(13); and
(3) each judge of a court with primary responsibility for
family law or family violence matters to complete and provide
certification of completion of an additional hour of training
described by Subsection (d)(13) every two years.
(c) In adopting the rules, the court of criminal appeals may
consult with the supreme court and with professional groups and
associations in the state that have expertise in the subject matter
to obtain the recommendations of those groups or associations for
instruction content.
(d) The instruction must include information about:
(1) statutory and case law relating to videotaping a child's
testimony and relating to competency of children to testify;
(2) methods for eliminating the trauma to the child caused
by the court process;
(3) case law, statutory law, and procedural rules relating
to family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, and
child abuse and neglect;
(4) methods for providing protection for victims of family
violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, and child abuse
and neglect;
(5) available community and state resources for counseling
and other aid to victims and to offenders;
(6) gender bias in the judicial process;
(7) dynamics and effects of being a victim of sexual
assault, trafficking of persons, or child abuse and neglect;
(8) dynamics of sexual abuse of children, including child
abuse accommodation syndrome and grooming;
(9) impact of substance abuse on an unborn child and on a
person's ability to care for a child;
(10) issues of attachment and bonding between children and
caregivers;
(11) issues of child development that pertain to
trafficking of persons and child abuse and neglect; and
(12) medical findings regarding physical abuse, sexual
abuse, trafficking of persons, and child abuse and neglect;
(13) dynamics of family violence.; and
(14) specíal needs.
SECTION 2.(a) As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall adopt the rules necessary
to implement Section 22.110, Government Code, as added by this Act.
(b) The changes in law made by Section 22.110, Government
Code, as added by this Act, apply to all judges elected, appointed,
or holding office on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.