S.C.R. No. 16
                             SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of
    1-2  Justice, sex offenders are far more likely than other felons to
    1-3  repeat their crimes; recent studies indicate that sex offenders who
    1-4  begin engaging in such conduct when they are juveniles average 380
    1-5  sex crimes during their lifetime; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, Early intervention by the justice system and
    1-7  initiation of appropriate treatment strategies are necessary to
    1-8  reduce the personal suffering and social cost of sex crimes, and
    1-9  there is a greater likelihood that offenders will receive proper
   1-10  treatment if there is a greater understanding of sexual abuse cases
   1-11  among the legal professionals who initially come into contact with
   1-12  perpetrators and victims of these offenses; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, Board certified family law attorneys and criminal,
   1-14  county, and district attorneys are the members of the legal
   1-15  profession most likely to be on the front lines in dealing with
   1-16  sexual abuse cases, and these attorneys should be required to have
   1-17  specialized continuing education in the characteristics and effects
   1-18  of sexual abuse and the nature of sex offenders; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, The Texas Supreme Court has the authority to
   1-20  regulate the practice of law and to exercise administrative control
   1-21  over the State Bar of Texas by  promulgating rules for the
   1-22  operation, maintenance, and conduct of the legal profession; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, Article XII of the State Bar Rules establishes the
   1-24  minimum continuing legal education requirements that every active
    2-1  member of the bar must meet to remain current on the law and to
    2-2  foster and maintain the high ideals, integrity, learning, and
    2-3  competence in public service that are expected of members of the
    2-4  legal profession; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, Chapter 56, Government Code, creates the judicial
    2-6  and court personnel training fund administered by the Texas Court
    2-7  of Criminal Appeals and authorizes that court to adopt rules for
    2-8  programs relating to education and training for certain judges,
    2-9  prosecuting attorneys, criminal defense attorneys, and court
   2-10  personnel; and
   2-11        WHEREAS, Since the issue of sexual abuse is an increasingly
   2-12  growing problem and its impact on innocent victims is so severe,
   2-13  actions must be taken to make certain that the perpetrators and the
   2-14  victims receive the proper treatment; now, therefore, be it
   2-15        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   2-16  hereby urge the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal
   2-17  Appeals to promulgate rules to institute a continuing education
   2-18  curriculum on sexual abuse issues with particular emphasis on the
   2-19  effects and characteristics of sexual abuse cases and the nature of
   2-20  sex offenders and that this program be required of all board
   2-21  certified family law attorneys and criminal, county, and district
   2-22  attorneys licensed to practice law in this state; and, be it
   2-23  further
   2-24        RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward official copies
   2-25  of this resolution to the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of
   2-26  Criminal Appeals.