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Senate Bill 484 |
Senate Author: Whitmire et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-13 |
House Sponsor: Turner, Sylvester |
Senate Bill 484 amends the Health and Safety Code to require a court to enter an order of nondisclosure for a defendant who successfully completes a prostitution prevention program with respect to all records and files related to the arrest for the offense for which the defendant entered the program. The bill establishes the essential characteristics and powers and duties of such a program, authorizes a county commissioners court or the governing body of a municipality to establish such a program for defendants charged with certain prostitution conduct, requires the consent of the attorney representing the state for a defendant's participation in a program, and provides that an eligible defendant may choose whether to participate in a program or otherwise proceed through the criminal justice system. The bill provides for the establishment of regional prostitution prevention programs for participating counties or municipalities, establishes provisions regarding program oversight by appropriate legislative committees and program audits performed by the state auditor, and authorizes a legislative committee to compel documentation from a county that does not establish a prostitution prevention program due to insufficient federal or state funding. The bill establishes a nonrefundable fee capped at $1,000 to be paid by a program participant on a periodic basis or on a deferred payment schedule and provides a breakdown of the fee into payments for specific program services. The bill provides for the mandatory establishment of a prostitution prevention program in certain counties and sets out provisions relating to such a county's application for and receipt of federal and state funds to pay program costs. The bill authorizes a judge or magistrate administering a prostitution prevention program to suspend a program participant's community supervision requirement to work at a community service project and to excuse the participant from any such requirement previously suspended in that manner on the participant's successful completion of the program.
Senate Bill 484 amends the Government Code to add a prostitution prevention program to the list of specialty courts eligible to receive grant funding.