75R12275 KEL-F By Gallego H.B. No. 2628 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2628: By Finnell C.S.H.B. No. 2628 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to alternative uses for money in the compensation to 1-3 victims of crime fund or in the compensation to victims of crime 1-4 auxiliary fund. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Article 56.54, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 1-7 amended by adding Subsections (h) and (i) to read as follows: 1-8 (h) In addition to the purposes provided by Subsection (b), 1-9 excess money in the compensation to victims of crime fund may be 1-10 transferred to the general revenue fund as provided by Article 1-11 56.541. 1-12 (i) In addition to the purposes provided by Subsections (b) 1-13 and (c), the legislature may appropriate money in the compensation 1-14 to victims of crime fund or in the compensation to victims of crime 1-15 auxiliary fund to state agencies delivering or funding 1-16 victim-related services or assistance. This subsection expires 1-17 August 31, 1998. 1-18 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal 1-19 Procedure, is amended by adding Article 56.541 to read as follows: 1-20 Art. 56.541. EXCESS MONEY. (a) Not later than July 2 of 1-21 each year, the attorney general, after consulting with the 1-22 comptroller, shall estimate: 1-23 (1) the amount of money that the attorney general 1-24 anticipates will be received from deposits made to the credit of 2-1 the compensation to victims of crime fund during the next state 2-2 fiscal biennium, in addition to money credited to the fund at the 2-3 beginning of the fiscal biennium, other than deposits of: 2-4 (A) gifts, grants, and donations; and 2-5 (B) money received from the United States; and 2-6 (2) the amount of money that the attorney general 2-7 anticipates will be obligated during the next state fiscal biennium 2-8 to comply with this chapter. 2-9 (b) If the attorney general estimates that in the next 2-10 fiscal year the amount credited to the compensation to victims of 2-11 crime fund will exceed obligations on the fund by more than $100 2-12 million, the comptroller, as the amount in excess of $100 million 2-13 becomes available, shall transfer that excess amount to the 2-14 general revenue fund. 2-15 (c) The attorney general may use any interest accrued on 2-16 money in the compensation to victims of crime fund or in the 2-17 compensation to victims of crime auxiliary fund for grants or 2-18 contracts supporting victim-related services or assistance. A 2-19 grant supporting victim-related services or assistance is governed 2-20 by Chapter 783, Government Code. 2-21 (d) The attorney general shall adopt rules necessary to 2-22 carry out the requirements of this article. 2-23 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. The 2-24 attorney general shall make the first estimates required by Article 2-25 56.541, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act, for the 2-26 fiscal year beginning September 1, 1998. 2-27 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 3-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-4 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.