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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the rights of victims of fraudulent financial schemes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 56.34 of the Code of Criminal Procedure |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 56.34. COMPENSATION. (a) The attorney general shall |
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award compensation for pecuniary loss arising from criminally |
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injurious conduct if the attorney general is satisfied by a |
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preponderance of the evidence that the requirements of this |
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subchapter are met. |
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(b) The attorney general, shall establish whether, as a |
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direct result of criminally injurious conduct, a claimant or victim |
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suffered personal injury or death or suffered severe financial |
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hardship from a fraudulent financial scheme that resulted in a |
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pecuniary loss for which the claimant or victim is not compensated |
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from a collateral source. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 56.42 of the Code of Criminal Procedure |
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is amended as follows by adding subsection (f): |
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(f) the limits of awards payable to victims of a fraudulent |
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financial scheme shall not be less than the losses to the victim |
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from that fraudulent financial scheme. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |