SRC-TJG H.B. 1042 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1042 78R4089 BDH-DBy: Talton (Williams) Criminal Justice 5/10/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The Crime Victims Compensation Fund (CVCF) was established by the 66th Legislature to provide financial assistance and support to victims of crime. In 1997, S.B. 987 authorized the legislature to appropriate funds from the CVCF to state agencies for "victim-related services." The term has become so broad and has gone to fund so many programs not directed strictly towards crime victims that the CVCF is heading for insolvency sometime between 2008 and 2011. Prior to S.B. 987, the attorney general was the sole controller of the fund's expenditures. H.B. 1042 returns control of all funds in the CVCF solely to the attorney general who will grant funds only to victim services. 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 Article 56.541(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, to authorize the legislature, for a state fiscal biennium, to appropriate to the attorney general from the compensation to victims of crime fund the amount of excess money in the fund certified for the biennium under Subsection (b). Authorizes the attorney general to use funds appropriated under this subsection only for the support of victim-related services and assistance. Deletes existing text relating to appropriating certain excess money to state agencies that deliver or fund victimrelated services or assistance. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003.