78R836 KEL-D

By:  Goolsby                                                      H.B. No. 1333



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a sexual assault program referral provided by a law 
enforcement agency to certain victims.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Article 56.07, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Art. 56.07.  NOTIFICATION.  (a)  At the initial contact or at 
the earliest possible time after the initial contact between the 
victim of a reported crime and the law enforcement agency having the 
responsibility for investigating that crime, that agency shall 
provide the victim a written notice containing:
		(1)  information about the availability of emergency 
and medical services, if applicable;
		(2)  notice that the victim has the right to receive 
information regarding compensation to victims of crime as provided 
by Subchapter B, Chapter 56, including information about:
			(A)  the costs that may be compensated under that 
Act and the amount of compensation, eligibility for compensation, 
and procedures for application for compensation under that Act;
			(B)  the payment for a medical examination for a 
victim of a sexual assault under Article 56.06 of this code; and
			(C)  referral to available social service 
agencies that may offer additional assistance;
		(3)  the name, address, and phone number of the law 
enforcement agency's victim assistance liaison;
		(4)  the address, phone number, and name of the crime 
victim assistance coordinator of the office of the attorney 
representing the state;
		(5)  the following statement:                                                 
	"You may call the law enforcement agency's telephone number 
for the status of the case and information about victims' rights"; 
and
		(6)  the rights of crime victims under Article 56.02 of 
this code.          
	(b)  At the same time a law enforcement agency provides 
notice under Subsection (a), the agency shall 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.  A sexual assault program shall 
provide a written description of its services on the request of a 
law enforcement agency.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only 
to notice provided by a law enforcement agency to a victim of an 
offense committed on or after October 1, 2003.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.