Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 1325	Senate Author:  Alvarado
Effective:  5-13-23	House Sponsor:  Goodwin et al.

            Senate Bill 1325, the Natalia Cox Act, amends the Human Resources Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to adopt a written notice to be provided to victims of family violence, stalking, harassment, or terroristic threat to assist those victims in obtaining services. The bill sets out the required contents of the notice, provides for periodic updates, and requires the notice to be available on HHSC's website in both English and Spanish.

Senate Bill 1325 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and Education Code to require a peace officer, including a campus peace officer at an institution of higher education, who investigates an allegation of family violence, stalking, harassment, or terroristic threat or responds to a disturbance call that may involve family violence to advise any possible adult victim of all reasonable means to prevent the occurrence of further offenses, including by providing the written notice adopted by HHSC. In addition, the peace officer may provide to the possible victim any available written information regarding local or campus resources for such victims. The bill removes certain existing requirements for a written notice provided by a peace officer to a possible family violence victim.

Senate Bill 1325 amends the Family Code to replace a provision prescribing the required form and contents of a written notice that a medical professional must provide to a person treated for injuries that the professional has reason to believe were caused by family violence with a requirement that the professional give the person the written notice adopted by HHSC.