BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3327

By: Alvarado

Human Services

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been reported that victims of domestic violence face one of the greatest risks of preventable homicide. The Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center in Massachusetts has developed a nationally recognized community domestic violence response system, known as the domestic violence high risk team model, that uses risk assessments to help identify and monitor the most dangerous domestic violence cases. Noting that the model was a major success in Massachusetts and has been mirrored throughout the country, observers assert that Texas could benefit greatly from similar endeavors. H.B. 3327 seeks to establish domestic violence high risk teams in Texas.    

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3327 amends the Government Code to authorize the attorney general to award grants to domestic violence high risk teams in communities in Texas using money appropriated for that purpose and to establish that a domestic violence high risk team is a multidisciplinary team that coordinates efforts to increase the safety of victims of family violence by monitoring and containing perpetrators while providing victim services. The bill authorizes the team to be composed of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, community supervision and corrections departments, victim advocates, nonprofit organizations that provide services or shelter to victims of family violence, and medical personnel. The bill specifies that the team members work together to share information and communicate to provide the best possible responses to victims at high risk.

H.B. 3327 requires the attorney general to request proposals for the award of grants to domestic violence high risk teams and to evaluate the proposals and award grants based on the need for domestic violence services in the community in which the team is located and the effectiveness or potential effectiveness of the team. The bill authorizes a grant recipient to use grant money received under the bill's provisions only to fund the activities of a domestic violence high risk team in reducing or preventing incidents of domestic violence and providing domestic violence services to victims. The bill requires the attorney general to establish procedures to administer the grant program, including a procedure for the submission of a proposal and a procedure to be used by the attorney general in evaluating a proposal. The bill requires the attorney general to apply for any available federal grant funds for the prevention of domestic violence to supplement any appropriations for the grant program.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.