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AN ACT
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relating to oversight of specialty court programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 121.002, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (c) and (d) and adding Subsections (f) and (g) |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) Notwithstanding any other law, a specialty court |
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program may not operate until the judge, magistrate, or |
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coordinator: |
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(1) provides to the Office of Court Administration of |
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the Texas Judicial System [criminal justice division of the
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governor's office]: |
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(A) written notice of the program; |
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(B) any resolution or other official declaration |
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under which the program was established; and |
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(C) a copy of the applicable strategic plan that |
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incorporates duties related to supervision that will be required |
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under the program; and |
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(2) receives from the office [division] written |
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verification of the program's compliance with Subdivision (1). |
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(d) A specialty court program shall: |
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(1) comply with all programmatic best practices |
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recommended by the Specialty Courts Advisory Council under Section |
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772.0061(b)(2) and approved by the Texas Judicial Council; and |
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(2) report to the criminal justice division of the |
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governor's office and the Texas Judicial Council any information |
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required by the division or council regarding the performance of |
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the program. |
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(f) The Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial |
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System shall: |
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(1) on request provide technical assistance to the |
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specialty court programs; |
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(2) coordinate with an entity funded by the criminal |
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justice division of the governor's office that provides services to |
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specialty court programs; |
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(3) monitor compliance of the specialty court programs |
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with the programmatic best practices as required by Subsection |
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(d)(1); and |
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(4) notify the criminal justice division about each |
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specialty court program that is not in compliance with the |
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programmatic best practices as required by Subsection (d)(1). |
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(g) The Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial |
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System shall coordinate with and provide information to the |
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criminal justice division of the governor's office on request of |
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the division. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2955 was passed by the House on April |
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24, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 148, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2955 was passed by the Senate on May |
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22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |