By Pitts H.B. No. 2343 75R3007 GWK-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to facilitating victim-offender mediation as a part of a 1-3 plea-bargain arrangement. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Article 26.13, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 1-6 amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: 1-7 (g) Before accepting a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo 1-8 contendere and on the request of a victim of the offense, the court 1-9 may assist the victim and the defendant in participating in a 1-10 victim-offender mediation program. 1-11 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-16 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-17 passage, and it is so enacted.