SRC-LBB, VRA S.B. 51 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 51
By: Zaffirini
Criminal Justice
6/24/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, law enforcement agencies are not required to provide a victim
of sexual assault with written information relating to local sexual
assault services.  Studies show that the first response a victim receives
after reporting a rape significantly impacts the recovery period for the
victim.  S.B. 51 requires law enforcement agencies to provide victims with
written information about local sexual assault services that are available
if the local rape crisis centers provide the written materials. 

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 56.07, Code of Criminal Procedure, as follows:

 Art. 56.07.  NOTIFICATION.  Creates Subsection (a) from existing text.

(b)  Requires a law enforcement agency, at the same time it provides
notice under Subsection (a) regarding victim services, to also provide, if
the agency possesses the relevant information, a referral to a sexual
assault program as defined by Section 420.003, Government Code, and a
written description of the services provided by that program.  Authorizes
a sexual assault program to provide a written description of its services
to a law enforcement agency.  

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective to October 1, 2003.

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.