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By: Farias, Guillen (Senate Sponsor - Menéndez) |
H.B. No. 3729 |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2015; |
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May 5, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal |
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Justice; May 21, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote: |
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Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 21, 2015, sent to printer.) |
| Click here to see the committee vote |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to inclusion of family members of veterans court program |
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participants in the treatment and services provided to the |
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participants under the program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 124.001(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) In this chapter, "veterans court program" means a |
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program that has the following essential characteristics: |
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(1) the integration of services in the processing of |
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cases in the judicial system; |
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(2) the use of a nonadversarial approach involving |
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prosecutors and defense attorneys to promote public safety and to |
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protect the due process rights of program participants; |
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(3) early identification and prompt placement of |
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eligible participants in the program; |
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(4) access to a continuum of alcohol, controlled |
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substance, mental health, and other related treatment and |
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rehabilitative services; |
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(5) careful monitoring of treatment and services |
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provided to program participants; |
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(6) a coordinated strategy to govern program responses |
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to participants' compliance; |
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(7) ongoing judicial interaction with program |
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participants; |
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(8) monitoring and evaluation of program goals and |
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effectiveness; |
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(9) continuing interdisciplinary education to promote |
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effective program planning, implementation, and operations; [and] |
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(10) development of partnerships with public agencies |
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and community organizations, including the United States |
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Department of Veterans Affairs; and |
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(11) inclusion of a participant's family members who |
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agree to be involved in the treatment and services provided to the |
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participant under the program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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* * * * * |