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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program for crime victim notification systems. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 772.0079 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 772.0079. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CRIME VICTIM NOTIFICATION |
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SYSTEMS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal |
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justice division established under Section 772.006. |
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(2) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the |
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state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state |
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authorized by law to employ peace officers. |
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(3) "Victim" means a person who has suffered personal |
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injury or death as a result of the criminal conduct of another. |
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(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and |
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administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to a law |
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enforcement agency for purposes of purchasing or developing a crime |
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victim notification system. |
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(c) The criminal justice division shall establish: |
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(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants; |
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(2) grant application procedures; |
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(3) criteria for evaluating grant applications and |
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awarding grants; |
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(4) guidelines related to grant amounts; and |
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(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant |
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awarded under this section and ensuring compliance with any |
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conditions of the grant. |
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(d) A crime victim notification system for which a law |
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enforcement agency seeks a grant under this section must: |
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(1) automatically, and without the requirement to |
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download a software application to opt in to notifications, notify |
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a victim or relative of a deceased victim by e-mail or text message |
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of all of the following regarding a victim's case: |
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(A) the date on which the incident report is |
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created; |
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(B) the case number; |
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(C) the name of investigators who are assigned to |
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the case; |
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(D) the date: |
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(i) an arrest is made; |
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(ii) an affidavit alleging probable cause |
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is presented to the attorney representing the state; and |
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(iii) the defendant is arraigned under |
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Chapter 26, Code of Criminal Procedure; |
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(E) updates regarding biological evidence as |
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defined by Article 38.43, Code of Criminal Procedure, including the |
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results of a sexual assault examination kit, as applicable; |
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(F) whether the case has been dismissed by the |
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attorney representing the state; and |
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(G) any other information relevant to the case; |
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(2) interface with the law enforcement agency's system |
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of records; |
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(3) provide configurable triggers to directly send |
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messages; |
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(4) provide the capability: |
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(A) to attach informational brochures or other |
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electronic attachments to the messages; |
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(B) for a person to check the case status; |
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(C) to transmit notifications in English or |
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Spanish; and |
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(D) to respond to questions via artificial |
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intelligence; |
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(5) monitor the number and types of messages sent and |
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enable a user to visualize that data; and |
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(6) provide a survey tool so the law enforcement |
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agency can solicit feedback on victims services. |
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(e) Information in the crime victim notification system is |
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confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552. |
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(f) The criminal justice division may use any available |
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revenue for purposes of this section. |
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(g) As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, |
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a law enforcement agency shall annually report to the criminal |
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justice division the number and types of notifications sent using |
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the crime victim notification system. |
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(h) Not later than December 1 of each year, the criminal |
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justice division shall compile the information described by |
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Subsection (g) into a written report provided to the legislature. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |