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


Senate Research Center   S.B. 51
78R836 KEL-DBy: Zaffirini
Criminal Justice
2/27/2003
As Filed


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.  As proposed, 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)  As added,  requires a law enforcement agency,  at the same time it
provides notice under Subsection (a) regarding victim services, to also
provide, if applicable, 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.  Requires a sexual assault program to
provide a written description of its services on the request of 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.