S.B. 51 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 51
By: Zaffirini
Law Enforcement
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, law enforcement agencies are not required to provide a victim
of sexual assault with written information relating to local sexual
assault victims' services.  Studies show that the first response a victim
receives after reporting a sexual assault significantly impacts the
recovery period. In order to facilitate contact between a victim and a
service provider, Senate Bill 51 requires law enforcement agencies to
provide victims with written information regarding available sexual
assault services. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 51 adds Article 56.07(b) to the Code of Criminal Procedure,
requiring that at the same time a law enforcement agency provides a victim
with written notices required by this section, the agency must provide the
victim with a referral to a sexual assault program as defined by Section
420.003, Government Code, and a written description of the program's
services, if the relevant information is available.  The bill allows a
sexual assault program to provide a written description of its services to
a law enforcement agency.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.