By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 495
 
  (Harless)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain rights of crime victims.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 56A.051(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a
  deceased victim is entitled to the following rights within the
  criminal justice system:
               (1)  the right to receive from a law enforcement agency
  adequate protection from harm and threats of harm arising from
  cooperation with prosecution efforts;
               (2)  the right to:
                     (A)  have the magistrate consider the safety of
  the victim or the victim's family in setting the amount of bail for
  the defendant;
                     (B)  be informed of the amount of bail set for the
  defendant; and
                     (C)  request that the attorney representing the
  state ask the magistrate to adjust the amount of bail as necessary
  to ensure the safety of the victim or the victim's family;
               (3)  if requested, the right to be informed:
                     (A)  by the attorney representing the state of
  relevant court proceedings, including appellate proceedings, and
  to be informed if those proceedings have been canceled or
  rescheduled before the event; and
                     (B)  by an appellate court of the court's
  decisions, after the decisions are entered but before the decisions
  are made public;
               (4)  when requested, the right to be informed:
                     (A)  by a peace officer concerning the defendant's
  right to bail and the procedures in criminal investigations; and
                     (B)  by the office of the attorney representing
  the state concerning the general procedures in the criminal justice
  system, including general procedures in guilty plea negotiations
  and arrangements, restitution, and the appeals and parole process;
               (5)  the right to provide pertinent information to a
  community supervision and corrections department conducting a
  presentencing investigation concerning the impact of the offense on
  the victim and the victim's family by testimony, written statement,
  or any other manner before any sentencing of the defendant;
               (6)  the right to receive information regarding
  compensation to victims of crime as provided by Chapter 56B,
  including information related to the costs that may be compensated
  under that chapter and the amount of compensation, eligibility for
  compensation, and procedures for application for compensation
  under that chapter, the payment for a forensic medical examination
  under Article 56A.252 for a victim of an alleged sexual assault, and
  when requested, to referral to available social service agencies
  that may offer additional assistance;
               (7)  the right to:
                     (A)  be informed, on request, of parole
  procedures;
                     (B)  participate in the parole process;
                     (C)  provide to the board for inclusion in the
  defendant's file information to be considered by the board before
  the parole of any defendant convicted of any offense subject to this
  chapter; and
                     (D)  be notified, if requested, of parole
  proceedings concerning a defendant in the victim's case and of the
  defendant's release;
               (8)  the right to be provided with a waiting area,
  separate or secure from other witnesses, including the defendant
  and relatives of the defendant, before testifying in any proceeding
  concerning the defendant; if a separate waiting area is not
  available, other safeguards should be taken to minimize the
  victim's contact with the defendant and the defendant's relatives
  and witnesses, before and during court proceedings;
               (9)  the right to the prompt return of any of the
  victim's property that is held by a law enforcement agency or the
  attorney representing the state as evidence when the property is no
  longer required for that purpose;
               (10)  the right to have the attorney representing the
  state notify the victim's employer, if requested, that the victim's
  cooperation and testimony is necessary in a proceeding that may
  require the victim to be absent from work for good cause;
               (11)  the right to request victim-offender mediation
  coordinated by the victim services division of the department;
               (12)  the right to be informed of the uses of a victim
  impact statement and the statement's purpose in the criminal
  justice system as described by Subchapter D, to complete the victim
  impact statement, and to have the victim impact statement
  considered:
                     (A)  by the attorney representing the state and
  the judge before sentencing or before a plea bargain agreement is
  accepted; and
                     (B)  by the board before a defendant is released
  on parole;
               (13)  for a victim of an assault or sexual assault who
  is younger than 17 years of age or whose case involves family
  violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code, the right to
  have the court consider the impact on the victim of a continuance
  requested by the defendant; if requested by the attorney
  representing the state or by the defendant's attorney, the court
  shall state on the record the reason for granting or denying the
  continuance; and
               (14)  if the offense is a capital felony, the right to:
                     (A)  receive by mail from the court a written
  explanation of defense-initiated victim outreach if the court has
  authorized expenditures for a defense-initiated victim outreach
  specialist;
                     (B)  not be contacted by the victim outreach
  specialist unless the victim, guardian, or relative has consented
  to the contact by providing a written notice to the court; and
                     (C)  designate a victim service provider to
  receive all communications from a victim outreach specialist acting
  on behalf of any person.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.