By Moncrief S.B. No. 987
75R8272 JSA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the use of excess money in certain funds for the
1-3 compensation of crime victims.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subsections (b) and (c), Article 56.54, Code of
1-6 Criminal Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
1-7 (b) Except as provided by Article 56.541, the [The]
1-8 compensation to victims of crime fund may be used only by the
1-9 attorney general [only] for the payment of compensation to
1-10 claimants or victims under this subchapter and other expenses in
1-11 administering this subchapter.
1-12 (c) Except as provided by Article 56.541, the [The]
1-13 compensation to victims of crime auxiliary fund may be used only
1-14 by the attorney general [only] for the payment of compensation to
1-15 claimants or victims under this subchapter.
1-16 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal
1-17 Procedure, is amended by adding Article 56.541 to read as follows:
1-18 Art. 56.541. APPROPRIATION OF EXCESS MONEY FOR OTHER CRIME
1-19 VICTIM ASSISTANCE. (a) Not later than September 1 of each year,
1-20 the comptroller, after consulting with the attorney general, shall
1-21 certify an estimate of:
1-22 (1) the amount that will be required to make all
1-23 payments of awards under this subchapter from the compensation to
1-24 victims of crime fund and the auxiliary compensation to victims of
2-1 crime fund in the state fiscal year beginning on that September 1;
2-2 and
2-3 (2) the amount by which the available money in each of
2-4 those funds for the fiscal year, including the unexpended balance
2-5 from previous fiscal years, will exceed 115 percent of the amount
2-6 certified under Subdivision (1).
2-7 (b) The legislature may appropriate from the compensation to
2-8 victims of crime fund or the auxiliary compensation to victims of
2-9 crime fund the amount in that fund certified by the comptroller
2-10 under Subsection (a)(2) for a program or purpose that provides
2-11 substantial and direct benefits, services, or assistance to crime
2-12 victims or other persons affected by criminal conduct.
2-13 SECTION 3. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-14 (b) Notwithstanding the September 1 deadline provided by
2-15 Article 56.541, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act,
2-16 the attorney general shall make and certify the estimated amount
2-17 required to make payments of awards from the compensation to
2-18 victims of crime fund and the auxiliary compensation to victims of
2-19 crime fund for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 1997,
2-20 not later than September 30, 1997.
2-21 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-25 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.