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House Bill 1994 |
House Author: Weber et al. |
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Effective: 6-17-11 |
Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte |
House Bill 1994 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize the commissioners court of a county or the governing body of a municipality to establish a first offender prostitution prevention program for defendants charged with a prostitution offense in which the defendant offered or agreed to hire a person to engage in sexual conduct. The bill sets out the essential characteristics, powers, and duties of a first offender prostitution prevention program and makes a defendant eligible to participate in such a program only if the attorney representing the state consents to the defendant's participation and the court in which the criminal case is pending finds that the defendant has not been previously convicted of certain specified offenses. The bill requires a court to enter an order of nondisclosure with respect to a defendant's arrest records and files relating to the offense for which the defendant entered the program on a defendant's successful completion of a program if the defendant meets certain requirements. The bill establishes consequences for a defendant who chooses to participate in a program but fails to attend any portion of the program. The bill provides for oversight of first offender prostitution programs and establishes program participation fees to be allocated in a specified amount and manner to fund certain program costs.
House Bill 1994 amends the Government Code to make conforming changes relating to first offender prostitution program participation fees.