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.