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.