Bill Text: TX HB4318 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub

Texas House Bill 4318

Bill Title: Relating to a grant program for crime victim notification systems.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-04 - Laid on the table subject to call [HB4318 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB4318-Comm_Sub.html

	88R21342 CJD-F

	By: Walle	H.B. No. 4318

	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4318:

	By: Canales	C.S.H.B. No. 4318



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to a grant program for crime victim notification systems.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 772.0079 to read as follows:
	Sec. 772.0079. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CRIME VICTIM NOTIFICATION
	SYSTEMS. (a) In this section:
	(1) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal
	justice division established under Section 772.006.
	(2) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the
	state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state
	authorized by law to employ peace officers.
	(3) "Victim" means a person who has suffered personal
	injury or death as a result of the criminal conduct of another.
	(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and
	administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to a law
	enforcement agency for purposes of purchasing or developing a crime
	victim notification system.
	(c) The criminal justice division shall establish:
	(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
	(2) grant application procedures;
	(3) criteria for evaluating grant applications and
	awarding grants;
	(4) guidelines related to grant amounts; and
	(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
	awarded under this section and ensuring compliance with any
	conditions of the grant.
	(d) A crime victim notification system for which a law
	enforcement agency seeks a grant under this section must:
	(1) automatically, and without the requirement to
	download a software application to opt in to notifications, notify
	a victim or relative of a deceased victim by e-mail or text message
	of all of the following regarding a victim's case:
	(A) the date on which the incident report is
	created;
	(B) the case number;
	(C) the names of investigators who are assigned
	to the case;
	(D) the date:
	(i) an arrest is made;
	(ii) an affidavit alleging probable cause
	is presented to the attorney representing the state; and
	(iii) the defendant is arraigned under
	Chapter 26, Code of Criminal Procedure;
	(E) whether the case has been dismissed by the
	attorney representing the state; and
	(F) any other information relevant to the case;
	(2) interface with the law enforcement agency's system
	of records;
	(3) provide configurable triggers to directly send
	messages;
	(4) provide the capability:
	(A) to attach informational brochures or other
	electronic attachments to the messages;
	(B) for a person to check the case status;
	(C) to transmit notifications in English or
	Spanish; and
	(D) to respond to questions via artificial
	intelligence;
	(5) monitor the number and types of messages sent and
	enable a user to visualize that data; and
	(6) provide a survey tool so the law enforcement
	agency can solicit feedback on victims services.
	(e) Information in the crime victim notification system is
	confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552.
	(f) The criminal justice division may use any available
	revenue for purposes of this section.
	(g) As a condition of receiving a grant under this section,
	a law enforcement agency shall annually report to the criminal
	justice division the number and types of notifications sent using
	the crime victim notification system.
	(h) Not later than December 1 of each year, the criminal
	justice division shall compile the information described by
	Subsection (g) into a written report provided to the legislature.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.