By Hinojosa H.B. No. 3065 76R8734 GWK-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the use of victim-offender alternative dispute 1-3 resolution procedures in family violence cases. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Article 26.13(g), Code of Criminal Procedure, is 1-6 amended to read as follows: 1-7 (g) Before accepting a plea of guilty or a plea of nolo 1-8 contendere and on the request of a victim of the offense, the court 1-9 may assist the victim and the defendant in participating in a 1-10 victim-offender mediation program. The court may not refer or 1-11 order a victim or a defendant in a case involving family violence, 1-12 as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code, to participate in 1-13 mediation, dispute resolution, arbitration, or a similar procedure. 1-14 SECTION 2. Section 11, Article 42.12, Code of Criminal 1-15 Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: 1-16 (g) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(16), the court may not 1-17 refer or order a victim or a defendant in a case involving family 1-18 violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code, to participate 1-19 in mediation, dispute resolution, arbitration, or a similar 1-20 procedure. 1-21 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-2 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-3 passage, and it is so enacted.