BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2933
	By: Men�ndez
	Jurisprudence
	4/22/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

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In 2023, the Texas Department of Family Protective Services reported over 83,000 cases of elder abuse in Texas, up from 60,000 cases reported in 2022. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that one of the largest challenges in combating elder abuse is simply recognizing the signs of the abuse. Being able to recognize the signs of abuse in cases involving domestic violence, probate, guardianship, and estate matters is especially important for judges as they rule on matters that could potentially determine whether abuse is allowed to continue.

Currently, elder abuse training for judges is not required; however, this training is necessary to help judges understand the warning signs of elder abuse. This is especially important for judges who are working with elderly individuals on a daily basis through courts like probate and guardianship.

S.B. 2933 would add elder abuse training to the required training for district judges, statutory county court judges, associate judges, master, referee, and magistrate judge. This training would ensure judges are aware of the signs that elder abuse so they are able to make more informed decisions.

As proposed, S.B. 2933 amends current law relating to elder abuse training for judges.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 22.110, Government Code) of this bill.

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Supreme Court of Texas in SECTION 2 of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 22.110, Government Code, by adding Subsection (b), as follows:

(b) Requires that the rules adopted by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to accomplish the purposes of Section 22.110 (Judicial Instruction Related to Family Violence, Sexual Assault, Trafficking of Persons, and Child Abuse and Neglect) require certain judges to complete certain trainings, including requiring each of certain judges and judicial officers within the judge's first term of office or the judicial officer's first four years of service to complete and provide certification of completion of 12 hours of training that include at least certain amounts of time dedicated to certain subjects, including four hours dedicated to issues related to trafficking of persons and child abuse and neglect that cover at least two of the topics described in Subsections (d)(8) (relating to requiring that the judicial instruction content include information about dynamics of sexual abuse of children, including child abuse accommodation syndrome and grooming)-(14) (relating to requiring that the judicial instruction content include information about elder abuse), rather than Subsections (d)(8)-(12) (relating to requiring that the judicial instruction content include information about medical findings regarding physical abuse, sexual abuse, trafficking of persons, and child abuse and neglect).

(d) Requires that the judicial instruction content include information about certain subjects, including elder abuse. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. (a) Requires the Supreme Court of Texas, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt the rules necessary to implement Section 22.110, Government Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Makes application of Section 22.110, Government Code, as added by this Act, prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.