H.B. No. 3505
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to requirements for judicial training on issues regarding
  family violence, sexual assault, and child abuse and neglect.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 22.110, Government Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 22.110.  JUDICIAL INSTRUCTION RELATED TO FAMILY
  VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
         SECTION 2.  Section 22.110, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection
  (d-1) to read as follows:
         (a)  The court of criminal appeals shall assure that judicial
  training related to the problems of family violence, sexual
  assault, and child abuse and neglect is provided.
         (b)  The court of criminal appeals shall adopt the rules
  necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section. The rules
  must require each district judge, judge of a statutory county
  court, associate judge appointed under Chapter 54 of this code or
  Chapter 201, Family Code, master, referee, and magistrate to
  complete at least 12 [eight] hours of the training within the
  judge's first term of office or the judicial officer's first four
  years of service and provide a method for certification of
  completion of that training. At least four hours of the training
  must be dedicated to issues related to child abuse and neglect and
  must cover at least two of the topics described in Subsections
  (d)(8)-(12). At least six hours of the training must be dedicated
  to the training described by Subsections (d)(5), (6), and (7). The
  rules must require each judge and judicial officer to complete an
  additional five [three] hours of training during each additional
  term in office or four years of service. At least two hours of the
  additional training must be dedicated to issues related to child
  abuse and neglect. The rules must exempt from the training
  requirement of this subsection each judge or judicial officer who
  files an affidavit stating that the judge or judicial officer does
  not hear any cases involving family violence, sexual assault, or
  child abuse and neglect.
         (c)  In adopting the rules, the court of criminal appeals may
  consult with the supreme court and with professional groups and
  associations in the state that have expertise in the subject matter
  to obtain the recommendations of those groups or associations for
  instruction content.
         (d)  The instruction must include information about:
               (1)  statutory and case law relating to videotaping a
  child's testimony and relating to competency of children to
  testify;
               (2)  methods for eliminating the trauma to the child
  caused by the court process;
               (3)  case law, statutory law, and procedural rules
  relating to family violence, sexual assault, and child abuse and
  neglect;
               (4)  methods for providing protection for victims of
  family violence, sexual assault, and [or] child abuse and neglect;
               (5)  available community and state resources for
  counseling and other aid to victims and to offenders;
               (6)  gender bias in the judicial process; [and]
               (7)  dynamics and effects of being a victim of family
  violence, sexual assault, or child abuse and neglect;
               (8)  dynamics of sexual abuse of children, including
  child abuse accommodation syndrome and grooming;
               (9)  impact of substance abuse on an unborn child and on
  a person's ability to care for a child;
               (10)  issues of attachment and bonding between children
  and caregivers;
               (11)  issues of child development that pertain to child
  abuse and neglect; and
               (12)  medical findings regarding physical abuse,
  sexual abuse, and child abuse and neglect.
         (d-1)  The sponsoring organization for any training on
  issues related to child abuse and neglect must have at least three
  years' experience in training professionals on child abuse and
  neglect issues or have personnel or planning committee members who
  have at least five years' experience in working directly in the
  field of child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act to Section
  22.110, Government Code, regarding the training required in the
  first term or first four years of office, applies only to a judge or
  judicial officer who has not completed the initial training related
  to family violence, sexual assault, and child abuse and neglect
  required by that section before September 1, 2007.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3505 was passed by the House on April
  18, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 1, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 3505 on May 21, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 1,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3505 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 17, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor