78R2451 KEL-D

By:  Zaffirini                                                    S.B. No. 924



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to programs provided to reduce occurrences of sexual 
assault.      
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 420, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 420.0065 to read as follows:
	Sec. 420.0065.  SEXUAL ASSAULT OFFENDER PROJECT.  (a)  In 
this section, "eligible sexual assault offender" means a person 
who:
		(1)  is 13 years of age or older and younger than 21 
years of age;   
		(2)  is arrested or otherwise taken into custody for 
sexual assault or conduct constituting sexual assault, other than a 
sexual assault involving the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon, 
as defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code;  and
		(3)  has not previously been convicted of, or 
adjudicated as having engaged in delinquent conduct constituting, a 
felony offense, including an offense under Section 42.072, Penal 
Code.
	(b)  The attorney general by rule shall establish and 
administer through the service a project in which local and 
statewide programs provide intervention services to eligible 
sexual assault offenders.
	(c)  The attorney general shall contract with local and 
statewide programs who apply and are qualified to offer services 
under this section.
	(d)  The attorney general shall establish procedures for an 
eligible sexual assault offender receiving services from a program 
under this section to pay to the program all costs incurred in 
providing the services to the offender.  The offender shall pay 
those costs in accordance with the procedures established under 
this subsection.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  The office of the attorney general shall 
adopt rules as necessary under Section 420.0065, Government Code, 
as added by this Act, not later than December 1, 2003.
	(b)  The office of the attorney general shall establish the 
sexual assault offender project required by Section 420.0065, 
Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 
2004.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.