78R8359 T
By: Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 2236
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to costs paid by defendants convicted of an offense
involving family violence in municipal court where the municipality
has a victim advocacy program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 102, the Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Section 102.021 to read as follows:
Sec. 102.021. COSTS ATTENDANT TO FAMILY VIOLENCE
CONVICTIONS IN MUNICIPAL COURT FOR A VICTIM ADVOCACY PROGRAM.
(a) The governing body of a municipality may by ordinance create a
victim advocacy fund and may require a defendant convicted of
misdemeanor offense involving family violence in a municipal court
of record to pay a victim advocacy fee not to exceed $3 as a cost of
court.
(b) In this article, a person is considered convicted if:
(1) a person is found guilty after trial or upon the
entry of a plea of guilty or no contest; or
(2) the court defers final disposition of the person's
case.
(c) A fund created under this article may be used only to
finance a victim advocacy program which provides:
(1) assistance to victims of family violence in
relocating to shelters;
(2) education to the community and to professionals
who treat victims of family violence who attempt to prevent,
detect, and punish offenses involving family violence; and
(3) information relating to counseling for victims and
perpetrators of family violence.