SRC-JBJ H.B. 3491 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 3491 By: Hinojosa (Moncrief) Criminal Justice 5/6/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Family violence is the deliberate, often repetitive, physical abuse by one family member against another. In some cases of alleged family violence, police officers may be unable to identify the primary aggressor in the incident and will arrest all parties involved. As a result, victims of the incident are disqualified from receiving crime victim compensation, access to emergency shelters, and other public benefits. H.B. 3491 requires training for officers and recruits in the investigation of cases involving family violence to include instruction in preventing dual arrests. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (e), to require training officers and recruits in investigation of cases required by Subsection (b)(1)(B) to include instruction in preventing dual arrest whenever possible and conducting a thorough investigation to determine which person is the predominant aggressor when allegations of family violence from two or more opposing persons are received arising from the same incident. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.