SRC-HRD S.J.R. 33 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.J.R. 33
By: Moncrief
Finance
3-19-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

In 1979, the legislature passed the Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Act.
This Act created the Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund and established
statutory eligibility guidelines for the provision of certain benefits for
crime victims.  Money for the fund is generated through criminal court
costs.   

Currently, proceeds from the fund are used to assist victims with various
expenses that may result from a crime including medical, counseling, and
funeral expenses.  S.J.R. 33 provides for a constitutional dedication of
the fund and the Compensation of Victims of Crime Auxiliary Fund.
Furthermore, this resolution provides that proceeds from those funds may
be expended for the purposes of compensating victims of crime and
providing services to victims of crime as provided by law.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.J.R. 33 establishes a constitutional dedication of the
Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund and the Compensation to Victims of
Crime Auxiliary Fund and provides that proceeds from those funds may only
be expended for certain purposes. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article I of the Texas Constitution by adding Section
31, as follows: 

Sec. 31. (a) Provides that the compensation to victims of crime fund and
the compensation to victims of crime auxiliary fund created at Chapter 56,
Code of Criminal Procedure, is a dedicated fund in the state treasury. 

(b) Authorizes monies deposited to the credit of the compensation to
victims of crime fund and the compensation to victims of crime auxiliary
fund, subject to legislative appropriation and except as provided by
Subsection (c), from whatever source, to be expended only for the purposes
of compensating victims of crime and for providing services to victims of
crime, as provided by law.  

(c)  Provides that in the event of an episode of mass violence, the
Legislative Budget Board is authorized to expend monies deposited to the
credit of the compensation to victims of crime fund and the compensation
to victims of crime auxiliary fund for purposes of assisting such victims,
but only if monies appropriated for purposes of providing emergency
assistance, as authorized under other state law, are depleted. 

SECTION 2. Effective date:  January 1, 1998.

SECTION 3. Requires the proposed constitutional amendment to be submitted
to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 1997.  Sets forth
guidelines and required language for the ballot.