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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a victim assistance program to |
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provide services to domestic victims of trafficking. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 531, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter J-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J-1. ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR DOMESTIC VICTIMS OF |
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TRAFFICKING |
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Sec. 531.381. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Domestic victim" means a victim of trafficking |
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who is a permanent legal resident or citizen of the United States. |
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(2) "Victim of trafficking" has the meaning assigned |
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by 22 U.S.C. Section 7102. |
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Sec. 531.382. VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. The |
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commission shall develop and implement a program designed to assist |
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domestic victims, including victims who are children, in accessing |
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necessary services. The program must consist of at least the |
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following components: |
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(1) a searchable database of assistance programs for |
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domestic victims, including programs that provide mental health |
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services, other health services, services to meet victims' basic |
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needs, case management services, and any other services the |
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commission considers appropriate, that may be used to match victims |
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with appropriate resources; |
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(2) the grant program described by Section 531.383; |
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(3) training programs for judges, prosecutors, and law |
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enforcement personnel; and |
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(4) an outreach initiative to ensure that victims, |
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judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement personnel are aware of the |
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availability of services through the program. |
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Sec. 531.383. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Subject to available |
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funds, the commission shall establish a grant program to award |
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grants to public and nonprofit organizations that provide |
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assistance to domestic victims, including organizations that |
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provide public awareness activities, community outreach and |
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training, victim identification services, and legal services. |
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(b) To apply for a grant under this section, an applicant |
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must submit an application in the form and manner prescribed by the |
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commission. An applicant must describe in the application the |
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services the applicant intends to provide to domestic victims if |
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the grant is awarded. |
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(c) In awarding grants under this section, the commission |
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shall give preference to organizations that have experience in |
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successfully providing the types of services for which the grants |
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are awarded. |
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(d) A grant recipient shall provide reports as required by |
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the commission regarding the use of grant funds. |
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(e) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the commission shall submit a report to the legislature summarizing |
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the activities, funding, and outcomes of programs awarded a grant |
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under this section and providing recommendations regarding the |
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grant program. |
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Sec. 531.384. TRAINING PROGRAMS. The commission, with |
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assistance from the Office of Court Administration of the Texas |
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Judicial System, the Department of Public Safety, local law |
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enforcement agencies, and the Texas District and County Attorneys |
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Association, shall implement training programs designed to |
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increase the awareness of judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement |
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personnel of the needs of domestic victims, the availability of |
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services under this subchapter, the database of services described |
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by Section 531.382, and potential funding sources for those |
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services. |
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Sec. 531.385. FUNDING. (a) The commission may use |
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appropriated funds and may accept gifts, grants, and donations from |
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any sources for purposes of the victim assistance program |
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established under this subchapter. |
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(b) The commission shall conduct a study regarding |
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additional funding strategies for the victim assistance program. |
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In conducting the study, the commission shall identify appropriate |
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revenue streams, which may include revenue derived from: |
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(1) revenue streams similar to those used to fund |
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crime victims' compensation under Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of |
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Criminal Procedure; |
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(2) imposing additional court costs on defendants on |
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conviction of certain offenses; |
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(3) imposing additional fees on the filing of civil |
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cases; |
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(4) acquiring from law enforcement agencies the |
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proceeds from assets seized or forfeited under state or federal |
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law; and |
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(5) any other source identified by the commission. |
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(c) The commission shall submit a report regarding the |
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results of the study conducted under Subsection (b) to the 82nd |
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Legislature not later than December 1, 2010. The report must |
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include the commission's findings regarding appropriate revenue |
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streams for the victim assistance program, proposed legislation |
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necessary to receive the revenue for that purpose, and proposed |
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legislation regarding the establishment of a dedicated account to |
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which the revenue may be credited. |
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(d) This subsection and Subsections (b) and (c) expire |
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January 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |