AN ACT
1-1 relating to alternative uses for money in the compensation to
1-2 victims of crime fund.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Article 56.54, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
1-5 amended by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
1-6 (h) In addition to the purposes provided by Subsection (b),
1-7 the legislature may appropriate money in the compensation to
1-8 victims of crime fund to state agencies that deliver or fund
1-9 victim-related services or assistance. This subsection expires
1-10 August 31, 1999.
1-11 SECTION 2. Subsection (b), Article 56.54, Code of Criminal
1-12 Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
1-13 (b) Except as provided by Article 56.541, the [The]
1-14 compensation to victims of crime fund may be used only by the
1-15 attorney general [only] for the payment of compensation to
1-16 claimants or victims under this subchapter and other expenses in
1-17 administering this subchapter.
1-18 SECTION 3. 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. APPROPRIATION OF EXCESS MONEY FOR OTHER CRIME
1-21 VICTIM ASSISTANCE. (a) Not later than December 15 of each
1-22 even-numbered year, the attorney general, after consulting with the
1-23 comptroller, shall prepare forecasts and certify estimates of:
2-1 (1) the amount of money that the attorney general
2-2 anticipates will be received from deposits made to the credit of
2-3 the compensation to victims of crime fund during the next state
2-4 fiscal biennium, other than deposits of:
2-5 (A) gifts, grants, and donations; and
2-6 (B) money received from the United States;
2-7 (2) the amount of money from the fund that the
2-8 attorney general anticipates will be obligated during the next
2-9 state fiscal biennium to comply with this chapter; and
2-10 (3) the amount of money in the fund that the attorney
2-11 general anticipates will remain unexpended at the end of the
2-12 current state fiscal year and that is available for appropriation
2-13 in the next state fiscal biennium.
2-14 (b) At the time the attorney general certifies the estimates
2-15 made under Subsection (a), the attorney general shall also certify
2-16 for the next state fiscal biennium the amount of excess money in
2-17 the compensation to victims of crime fund for purposes of
2-18 Subsection (c), calculated by multiplying the amount estimated
2-19 under Subsection (a)(2) by 120 percent, and subtracting that
2-20 product from the sum of the amounts estimated under Subsections
2-21 (a)(1) and (a)(3).
2-22 (c) For a state fiscal biennium, the legislature may
2-23 appropriate from the compensation to victims of crime fund the
2-24 amount of excess money in the fund certified for the biennium under
2-25 Subsection (b) to state agencies that deliver or fund
3-1 victim-related services or assistance.
3-2 (d) The attorney general and the comptroller shall cooperate
3-3 in determining the proper allocation of the various sources of
3-4 revenue deposited to the credit of the compensation to victims of
3-5 crime fund for purposes of this article.
3-6 (e) The attorney general may use money appropriated from the
3-7 compensation to victims of crime fund for grants or contracts
3-8 supporting victim-related services or assistance. A grant
3-9 supporting victim-related services or assistance is governed by
3-10 Chapter 783, Government Code.
3-11 (f) The attorney general shall adopt rules necessary to
3-12 carry out this article.
3-13 SECTION 4. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
3-14 section, this Act takes effect immediately.
3-15 (b) Sections 2 and 3 of this Act take effect September 1,
3-16 1997. The attorney general shall make the first estimates required
3-17 by Article 56.541, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this
3-18 Act, for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 1999, and
3-19 the legislature may not appropriate excess money in the
3-20 compensation to victims of crime fund as provided by Article
3-21 56.541, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act, for a
3-22 biennium before the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1,
3-23 1999.
3-24 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
3-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
S.B. No. 987
4-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-4 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
4-5 terms, and it is so enacted.
________________________________ ________________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 987 passed the Senate on
April 17, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0;
May 27, 1997, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 29, 1997, House
granted request of the Senate; May 31, 1997, Senate adopted
Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 30,
Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 987 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 25, 1997, by a non-record vote; May 29, 1997,
House granted request of the Senate for appointment of Conference
Committee; May 31, 1997, House adopted Conference Committee Report
by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, one present not voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
________________________________
Date
________________________________
Governor