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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a specialty court for sexual assault |
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victim services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 2, Government Code, is amended by adding |
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Subtitle K-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBTITLE K-1. SPECIALTY COURTS FOR VICTIMS |
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CHAPTER 141. SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES COURT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 141.001. SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES COURT PROGRAM |
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DEFINED. In this chapter, "sexual assault victim services court |
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program" means a program that has the following essential |
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characteristics: |
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(1) the integration of services provided by public |
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agencies and community organizations for victims in sexual assault |
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cases; |
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(2) the use of prosecutors with experience in |
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prosecuting sexual assault cases; |
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(3) early identification and prompt placement of |
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eligible victims in the program; |
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(4) access by victims to counseling and other related |
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services provided by public agencies and community organizations; |
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(5) development of partnerships with public agencies |
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and community organizations; |
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(6) monitoring and evaluation of program goals and |
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effectiveness; |
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(7) continuing interdisciplinary education to promote |
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effective program planning, implementation, and operations; and |
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(8) inclusion of a participant's family members who |
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agree to be involved in the services provided to the participant |
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under the program. |
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Sec. 141.002. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH PROGRAM; ELIGIBILITY. |
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(a) The commissioners court of a county may establish a sexual |
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assault victim services court program for participants who are |
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victims of an alleged sexual assault in which a person is arrested |
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for or charged with an offense under Chapter 21 or 22, Penal Code. |
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(b) The local administrative judge, for the courts for which |
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the judge serves as local administrative judge, may select a court |
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in the county for assignment of cases described by Subsection (a). |
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The prosecuting attorney for the court must have experience in |
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prosecuting sexual assault offenses under Chapter 21 or 22, Penal |
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Code. |
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Sec. 141.003. DUTIES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES |
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COURT PROGRAM. (a) A sexual assault victim services court program |
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established under this chapter must: |
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(1) ensure that a victim eligible for participation in |
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the program volunteers to proceed through the program; and |
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(2) allow a participant to withdraw from the program |
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at any time. |
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(b) A sexual assault victim services court program |
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established under this chapter shall make, establish, and publish |
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local procedures to ensure maximum participation of eligible |
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victims in the county. |
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Sec. 141.004. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. A county may |
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accept a gift, grant, donation, or bequest of money, services, |
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equipment, goods, or other tangible or intangible property from any |
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source for the sexual assault victim services court program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |