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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program to fund domestic violence high risk |
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teams. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 402.038 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 402.038. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAMS GRANT |
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PROGRAM. (a) A domestic violence high risk team is a |
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multidisciplinary team that coordinates efforts to increase the |
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safety of victims of family violence, as that term is defined by |
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Section 71.004, Family Code, by monitoring and containing |
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perpetrators while providing victim services. The team may be |
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composed of law enforcement officers, prosecutors, community |
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supervision and corrections departments, victim advocates, |
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nonprofit organizations that provide services or shelter to victims |
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of family violence, and medical personnel. The team members work |
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together to share information and communicate to provide the best |
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possible responses to victims at high risk. |
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(b) Using money appropriated for the purpose, the attorney |
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general may award grants to domestic violence high risk teams in |
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communities in this state. |
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(c) The attorney general shall request proposals for the |
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award of grants under this section. The attorney general shall |
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evaluate the proposals and award grants based on the need for |
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domestic violence services in the community in which the team is |
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located and the effectiveness or potential effectiveness of the |
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team. |
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(c-1) In awarding grants under this section, the attorney |
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general shall prioritize a municipality with a population of more |
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than 1.18 million and located predominantly in a county that has a |
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total area of less than 1,000 square miles. This subsection expires |
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September 1, 2017. |
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(d) A grant recipient may use grant money received under |
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this section only to fund the activities of a domestic violence high |
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risk team in reducing or preventing incidents of domestic violence |
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and providing domestic violence services to victims. |
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(e) The attorney general shall establish procedures to |
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administer the grant program, including a procedure for the |
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submission of a proposal and a procedure to be used by the attorney |
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general in evaluating a proposal. |
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(f) To supplement any appropriations for the grant program, |
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the attorney general shall apply for any available federal grant |
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funds for the prevention of domestic violence. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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* * * * * |