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.