By Naishtat                                           H.B. No. 1205
         76R5439 PEP-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the right of certain victims of crime to the presence
 1-3     of a victim assistance coordinator or crime victim advocate during
 1-4     certain proceedings.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal
 1-7     Procedure, is amended by adding Article 56.045 to read as follows:
 1-8           Art. 56.045.  RIGHT TO PRESENCE OF VICTIM ASSISTANCE
 1-9     COORDINATOR OR CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATE.  A victim may not be denied
1-10     the opportunity to have the victim assistance coordinator or an
1-11     advocate from a crime victim assistance program present with the
1-12     victim at any emergency medical examination or legal proceeding
1-13     related to the investigation or prosecution of the offense, unless
1-14     the presence of the victim assistance coordinator or advocate
1-15     causes unnecessary interference or delay in the investigation or
1-16     prosecution of the offense.
1-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-18           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.