BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 788
	By: Geren (Zaffirini)
	Criminal Justice
	4/30/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, emergency service dispatchers who suffer from job related post-traumatic stress disorder and commit offenses in relation to this condition do not have the opportunity to participate in pre-trial diversion programs available to other first responders. H.B. 788 would make emergency service dispatchers eligible to participate in public safety employees treatment court programs.

H.B. 788 amends current law relating to the eligibility of emergency service dispatchers to participate in a public safety employees treatment court program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 129.001, Government Code, to redefine "public safety employee" for purposes of Chapter 129 (Public Safety Employees Treatment Court Program) to include an emergency service dispatcher of this state or a political subdivision of this state. Makes a nonsubstantive change.

SECTION 2. Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies to a person who, on or after the effective date of this Act, enters a public safety employees treatment court program created under Chapter 129, Government Code, regardless of whether the person entering the program committed the offense for which the person enters the program before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2021.

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