SRC-TJG H.B. 1895 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterH.B. 1895 By: Hope (Staples) Criminal Justice 5/23/2003 Committee Report (Amended) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Immediate family members of deceased crime victims often suffer pecuniary losses of wages and travel expenses as a direct result of the sudden and unexpected death of their loved one(s) due to a violent crime. Most close survivors of a victim are not in a position to absorb this unexpected financial loss. Some employers offer a paid bereavement leave to their employees, however, it is not the practice of all employers. H.B. 1895 provides limited compensation for certain survivors of deceased crime victims for out-of-pocket travel expenses associated with attending the funeral, and provides a bereavement period to reimburse lost wages for up to 10 work days, or a maximum of $1,000. 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 Articles 56.32(a)(2), and (9), Code of Criminal Procedure, as follows: (2) Redefines "claimant." (9) Redefines "pecuniary loss." SECTION 2. Amends Article 56.42, Code of Criminal Procedure, as follows: (c) Authorizes the attorney general, by rule, to establish limitations on any other pecuniary loss compensated for under this subchapter, including limitations on pecuniary loss incurred as a result of a claimant's travel to and attendance of a deceased victim's funeral. (e) Prohibits an immediate family member of a deceased victim from receiving more than $1,000 in lost wages as a result of bereavement leave taken by the family member. SECTION 3. (a) Effective date: September 1, 2003. (b) Makes application of this Act prospective. LIST OF COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS Committee Amendment No 1: Amends H.B. 1895 (house engrossment) as follows: (1) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in amended Article 56.32(a)(2), Code of Criminal Procedure (page 1, lines 19 and 20), strike "[or household member]" and substitute "or household member". (2) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in amended Article 56.32(a)(9), Code of Criminal Procedure (page 2, line 26), between "member" and "of", insert "or household member". (3) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in amended Article 56.32(a)(9), Code of Criminal Procedure (page 3, line 13), between "member" and "of", insert "or household member". (4) In SECTION 2 of the bill, in proposed Article 56.42(e), Code of Criminal Procedure (page 3, line 22), between "member" and "of", insert "or household member". (5) In SECTION 2 of the bill, in proposed Article 56.42(e), Code of Criminal Procedure (page 3, line 24), between "family" and "member", insert "or household".