By:  Goolsby                                                      H.B. No. 291



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to victim notification regarding the release of certain 
defendants following acquittal by reason of insanity.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 4(d), Article 46.03, Code of Criminal 
Procedure, is amended by adding Subdivision (8) to read as follows:
		(8)  Victim Notification of Release.  If the court 
issues an order under Subdivision (4) or (5) that requires the 
release of an acquitted person on discharge or on a regimen of 
outpatient care, the clerk of the court issuing the order, using the 
information provided on any victim impact statement received by the 
court under Article 56.03 or other information made available to 
the court, shall provide name, address, and phone number 
information to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice victim 
services division to enable the division to notify the victim or the 
victim's guardian or close relative of the release.  The victim 
services division shall notify any victim or guardian or close 
relative named in the victim impact statement or other information.  
Notwithstanding Article 56.03(f), the clerk of the court may 
inspect a victim impact statement for the purpose of notification 
under this subdivision.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.