H.B. No. 1706
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a specialty court program to provide victim services in
  sexual assault cases.
         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 VICTIM SERVICES
  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 who voluntarily agree to participate in the program;
               (2)  the use of prosecutors with experience in
  prosecuting sexual assault cases and judges with experience in
  hearing sexual assault cases;
               (3)  early identification and prompt assignment of
  eligible cases to the court designated under Section 141.002(b);
               (4)  access for victims participating in the program 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;
               (8)  inclusion of a participant's family members who
  voluntarily agree to be involved in the services provided to the
  participant under the program;
               (9)  prosecution of sexual assault offenses;
               (10)  issuance of protective orders for victims on the
  victim's consent and as authorized by state law; and
               (11)  continued monitoring of sexual assault
  defendants through prosecution and adjudication and for the
  duration of convicted offenders' sentences.
         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:
               (1)  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, committed against the victim; and
               (2)  voluntarily agree to participate in the program.
         (b)  The local administrative district and statutory county
  court judges of the county may designate a court in the county for
  assignment of cases described by Subsection (a). The judge of the
  designated court must have experience hearing sexual assault cases
  under Chapter 21 or 22, Penal Code.  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 voluntarily agrees to participate in 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, 2021.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1706 was passed by the House on April
  30, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 129, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1706 was passed by the Senate on May
  27, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor