BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1264

By: Huffman

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that while trial jurors who experience secondary trauma as a result of testimony and evidence presented during trial may receive counseling services provided through a commissioners court-approved program, no such recourse is explicitly available to a grand juror experiencing similar trauma. S.B. 1264 seeks to address this issue by making grand jurors eligible to receive psychological counseling through such a program.

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

S.B. 1264 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to include a grand juror or alternate grand juror serving in a grand jury investigation involving graphic evidence or testimony among the jurors who are eligible to receive not more than 10 hours of psychological counseling through a commissioners court-approved program in which such counseling is offered by a crime victim liaison or victim assistance coordinator, provided the grand juror or alternate grand juror  requests the counseling not later than the 180th day after the date on which the grand jury is dismissed.

S.B. 1264 amends the Government Code to make a conforming change.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.