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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the administration of a veterans treatment court |
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program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 124.003(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) A veterans treatment court program established under |
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this chapter shall make, establish, and publish local procedures to |
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ensure maximum participation of eligible defendants in the program |
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[county or counties in which those defendants reside]. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 124.006(a) and (d), Government Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A veterans treatment court program that accepts |
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placement of a defendant may transfer responsibility for |
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supervising the defendant's participation in the program to another |
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veterans treatment court program that is located in the county |
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where the defendant works or resides or in a county adjacent to the |
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county where the defendant works or resides. The defendant's |
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supervision may be transferred under this section only with the |
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consent of both veterans treatment court programs and the |
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defendant. |
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(d) If a defendant is charged with an offense in a county |
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that does not operate a veterans treatment court program, the court |
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in which the criminal case is pending may place the defendant in a |
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veterans treatment court program located in the county where the |
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defendant works or resides or in a county adjacent to the county |
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where the defendant works or resides, provided that a program is |
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operated in that county and the defendant agrees to the placement. |
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A defendant placed in a veterans treatment court program in |
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accordance with this subsection must agree to abide by all rules, |
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requirements, and instructions of the program. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |