SRC-DPW H.B. 3324 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3324
76R13744 EBy: Gallego (Carona)
Criminal Justice
5/14/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Victims of crime frequently need civil legal services in order to protect
themselves or family members from additional violence, to receive
protections, benefits, or services to which they are entitled, or to assist
in negotiations with landlords or creditors to avoid financial collapse
while they recover from the impact of the crime. While the Victims of Crime
Compensation Fund (VCC fund)will reimburse crime victims or family members
for certain expenses and may be used to fund state agencies that deliver or
fund certain victim services, the VCC  fund currently is not specifically
authorized to pay for civil legal service desperately needed by many crime
victims. H.B. 3324 would authorize the attorney general to use money
appropriated from the compensation to victims of crime fund for grants or
contracts supporting victim-related services or assistance, including
support for private Texas nonprofit corporations that provide
victim-related civil legal services directly to victims, immediate family
members of victims, or claimants.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 3324 authorizes the attorney general to use certain
monies for the provision of certain services to claimants under the
compensation to victims of crime fund. 

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 56.541(e), Code of Criminal Procedure, to
authorize the attorney general to use the appropriated money from the
compensation to victims of crime fund for grants or contracts supporting
victim-related services or assistance, including support for private Texas
nonprofit corporations that provide victim-related civil legal services
directly to victims, immediate family members of victims, or claimants.   

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.