HBA-GUM, RBT H.B. 3324 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3324
By: Gallego
Criminal Jurisprudence
7/27/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Victims of crime frequently need civil legal services in order to protect
themselves or family members from additional violence, to receive
protections, benefits, or services to which they are entitled, or to assist
in negotiations with landlords or creditors to avoid financial collapse
while they recover from the impact of the crime.  While the Victims of
Crime Compensation Fund will reimburse crime victims or family members for
certain expenses and may be used to fund state agencies that deliver or
fund certain victim services, prior to the 76th Texas Legislature, the fund
was not specifically authorized to pay for civil legal service desperately
needed by many crime victims. 

H.B. 3324 authorizes the attorney general to use money appropriated from
the compensation to victims of crime fund for grants or contracts
supporting victim-related services or assistance, including support for
private Texas nonprofit corporations that provide victim-related civil
legal services directly to victims, immediate family members of victims, or
claimants. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article 56.541(e), Code of Criminal Procedure, to
authorize the attorney general to use money appropriated from the
compensation to victims of crime fund for grants or contracts supporting
victim-related services or assistance, including support for private Texas
nonprofit corporations that provide victim-related civil legal services
directly to victims, immediate family members of victims, or claimants. 

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.