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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to victim-offender mediation services offered by the |
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victim services division of the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 56.13, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 56.13. VICTIM-OFFENDER MEDIATION. The victim services |
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division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall, in |
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accordance with any policies adopted by the division: |
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(1) train volunteers to act as mediators between |
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victims, guardians of victims, and close relatives of deceased |
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victims and offenders whose criminal conduct caused bodily injury |
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or death to victims; and |
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(2) provide mediation services through referral of a |
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trained volunteer, if requested by a victim, guardian of a victim, |
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or close relative of a deceased victim. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |