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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing psychological counseling to jurors or |
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alternate jurors in certain criminal trials. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 56.04, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) The commissioners court may approve a program in which |
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the crime victim liaison or victim assistance coordinator may offer |
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not more than 10 hours of posttrial psychological counseling for a |
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person who serves as a juror or an alternate juror in the trial of an |
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offense under Section 19.02, 19.03, 21.11, 22.011, 22.021, 43.05, |
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43.25, or 43.251, Penal Code, involving graphic evidence or |
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testimony and who requests the posttrial psychological counseling |
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not later than the 180th day after the date on which the jury in the |
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trial is dismissed. The crime victim liaison or victim assistance |
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coordinator may provide the counseling using a provider that |
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assists local criminal justice agencies in providing similar |
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services to victims. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.003(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Each prospective juror reporting for jury service shall |
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be personally provided a form letter that when signed by the |
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prospective juror directs the county treasurer to donate all of the |
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prospective juror's reimbursement for jury service to: |
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(1) the compensation to victims of crime fund under |
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Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure; |
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(2) the child welfare board of the county appointed |
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under Section 264.005, Family Code; |
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(3) any program selected by the commissioners court |
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that is operated by a public or private nonprofit organization and |
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that provides shelter and services to victims of family violence; |
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or |
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(4) any other program approved by the commissioners |
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court of the county, including a program established under Article |
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56.04(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, that offers psychological |
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counseling to jurors in criminal cases involving graphic evidence |
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or testimony. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act in adding |
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Article 56.04(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, applies only to the |
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provision of counseling for a juror or an alternate juror in a |
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criminal trial that begins on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |