Bill

HB 1048

84(R) - 2015
House Defense & Veterans' Affairs
House Defense & Veterans' Affairs
Criminal Justice
Military
Veterans

Vote Recommendation

Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Joe Farias

Co-Author(s)

Garnet F. Coleman
Susan King
Trey Martinez Fischer
Rick Miller

Bill Caption

Relating to the administration of and eligibility for participation in veterans court programs; changing a fee.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

This bill would amend Government Code to create a court program within the commissioners court of a county, if authorized, can establish for certain veterans is a veterans treatment court program, and expand program eligibility to defendants who had suffered sexual trauma during military service and would remove eligibility requirements that a veteran's injury, illness, or disorder resulted from service in a combat zone or other hazardous area, and would provide the court more discretion to order participation in a veterans court program and would reduce the not-to-exceed amount for the participation fee from $1,000 to $500. This legislation would also allow the automatic expunction of all records and files related to the arrest of a person that completes a veterans court program and requires the court to enter an order of nondisclosure under certain circumstances for individuals who successfully complete a veterans treatment court program, 

Vote Recommendation Notes

We remain neutral on this legislation. While we do support aiding our veterans who have entered into the criminal justice program as a result of illness or traumatic injury from their service, this legislation does not weigh against the principles we consider when providing bill analysis.