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.