By Allen                                              H.B. No. 1731
         76R6560 PEP-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the right of victims of a sexual assault to the
 1-3     presence of a victim assistance coordinator, crime victim advocate,
 1-4     or other representative during certain medical examinations.
 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, CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATE, OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVE.  A
1-10     victim of a sexual assault may not be denied the opportunity to
1-11     have the victim assistance coordinator, an advocate from a crime
1-12     victim assistance program, or another representative of the
1-13     victim's choice present with the victim at any medical examination
1-14     conducted for the purpose of collecting evidence related to the
1-15     investigation or prosecution of the offense.
1-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.