88R24332 LHC-D
 
  By: Wilson H.B. No. 3882
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the eligibility of a defendant to participate in a
  veterans treatment court program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 124.002, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioners court of a county may establish a
  veterans treatment court program for persons arrested for, charged
  with, convicted of, or placed on deferred adjudication community
  supervision for any misdemeanor or felony offense. A defendant is
  eligible to participate in a veterans treatment court program
  established under this chapter only if:
               (1)  the attorney representing the state consents to
  the defendant's participation in the program, subject to Subsection
  (a-1); and
               (2)  [if] the court in which the criminal case is
  pending or in which the defendant was convicted or placed on
  deferred adjudication community supervision, as applicable, finds
  that the defendant is a veteran or current member of the United
  States armed forces, including a member of the reserves, national
  guard, or state guard, who:
                     (A) [(1)]  suffers from a brain injury, mental
  illness, or mental disorder, including post-traumatic stress
  disorder, or was a victim of military sexual trauma if the injury,
  illness, disorder, or trauma:
                           (i) [(A)]  occurred during or resulted from
  the defendant's military service; and
                           (ii) [(B)]  affected the defendant's
  criminal conduct at issue in the case; or
                     (B) [(2)]  is a defendant whose participation in a
  veterans treatment court program, considering the circumstances of
  the defendant's conduct, personal and social background, and
  criminal history, is likely to achieve the objective of ensuring
  public safety through rehabilitation of the veteran in the manner
  provided by Section 1.02(1), Penal Code.
         (a-1)  If, not later than the 30th day after the date the
  defendant makes a request to participate in a veterans treatment
  court program and provides to the court proof of matters described
  by Subsection (a) as required by Subsection (c), the attorney
  representing the state has not consented to the defendant's
  participation in the program under Subsection (a)(1), the defendant
  may file a motion requesting the court in which the criminal case is
  pending or in which the defendant was convicted or placed on
  deferred adjudication community supervision, as applicable, to
  review the defendant's request to participate in the program.  The
  court may allow the defendant to participate in the veterans
  treatment court program if the court finds that the defendant
  otherwise meets the eligibility requirements described by
  Subsection (a)(2) and all other eligibility requirements
  prescribed by the specific veterans treatment court program in
  which the defendant seeks to participate.
         (a-2)  Before allowing a defendant to participate in a
  veterans treatment court program as provided by Subsection (a-1),
  the court shall provide the attorney representing the state an
  opportunity to explain the attorney's reason for not consenting to
  the defendant's participation.  If the court allows a defendant to
  participate in the program without the consent of the attorney
  representing the state, the court shall provide written notice of
  that decision to the attorney representing the state and to the
  defendant not later than the 10th day after the date the court makes
  the decision.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a criminal case that is pending on or commences on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.