SRC-HRD C.S.S.J.R. 33 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.J.R. 33 By: Moncrief Finance 4-8-97 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.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 or of adjudicated juvenile misconduct and for providing services to those victims, as provided by law. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.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 by Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure, are each a separate dedicated account in the general revenue fund. (b) Authorizes money deposited to the credit of the compensation to victims of crime fund or the compensation to victims of crime auxiliary fund, from any source, subject to legislative appropriation, to be expended only for the purposes of compensating victims of crime or of adjudicated juvenile misconduct and for providing services those victims, as provided by law. SECTION 2. Adds the following temporary provision to the Texas Constitution: TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) Provides that this temporary provision applies to the constitutional amendment proposed by S.J.R. 33, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, and expires January 1, 1998. (b) 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. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Article I, Texas Constitution, by amending proposed Section 31, to provide that the funds are each a separate dedicated account in the general revenue fund. Authorizes money deposited to the credit of the funds to be expended for the purpose of compensating victims of adjudicated juvenile misconduct. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Amends proposed SECTION 2 to provide that this temporary provision applies to the constitutional amendment proposed by S.J.R. 33, 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, and expires January 1, 1998. Provides that the amendment to Article I of this constitution takes effect January 1, 1998, rather than this amendment takes effect on January 1, 1998. Makes conforming changes.