By Shapiro                                            S.C.R. No. 16
       74R3429 SMC-D
                                 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, Certified family law attorneys and criminal, county,
   1-14  and district attorneys are the members of the legal profession most
   1-15  likely to be on the front lines in dealing with sexual abuse cases,
   1-16  and these attorneys should be required to have specialized
   1-17  continuing education in the characteristics and effects of sexual
   1-18  abuse and the nature of sex offenders; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, The Supreme Court of Texas 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, Since the issue of sexual abuse is an increasingly
    2-6  growing problem and its impact on innocent victims is so severe,
    2-7  actions must be taken to make certain that the perpetrators and the
    2-8  victims receive the proper treatment; now, therefore, be it
    2-9        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   2-10  hereby urge the Supreme Court of Texas to promulgate rules for the
   2-11  State Bar of Texas to institute in its continuing education
   2-12  curriculum a program on sexual abuse issues with particular
   2-13  emphasis on the effects and characteristics of sexual abuse cases
   2-14  and the nature of sex offenders and that this program be required
   2-15  of all certified family law attorneys and criminal, county, and
   2-16  district attorneys licensed to practice law in this state; and, be
   2-17  it further
   2-18        RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
   2-19  copy of this resolution to the Supreme Court of Texas.