Bill Text: TX SB855 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to judicial training requirements regarding family violence.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-29 - Effective on 9/1/23 [SB855 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB855-Introduced.html

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88R6370 JTZ-D
By: Alvarado, LaMantia S.B. No. 855

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to continuing judicial training regarding family violence
victims.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 22.110(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) The court of criminal appeals shall adopt the rules
necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section. The rules
must:
(1) require each district judge, judge of a statutory
county court, associate judge appointed under Chapter 54A of this
code or Chapter 201, Family Code, master, referee, and magistrate
to complete [at least 12 hours of the training] within the judge's
first term of office or the judicial officer's first four years of
service and provide [a method for] certification of completion of
at least 12 hours of [that] training that includes:
(A) at[. At] least four hours [of the training
must be] dedicated to issues related to trafficking of persons and
child abuse and neglect that cover [and must cover] at least two of
the topics described in Subsections (d)(8)-(12); and
(B) at[. At] least six hours [of the training
must be] dedicated to the training described by Subsections (d)(5),
(6), and (7);
(2) [. The rules must] require each judge and judicial
officer to complete [an additional five hours of training] during
each additional term in office or four years of service an
additional five hours of training that includes:
(A) at[. At] least two hours [of the additional
training must be] dedicated to issues related to trafficking of
persons and child abuse and neglect; and
(B) at least one hour dedicated to the dynamics
of and effects on victims of family violence;
(3) require each judge of a court having primary
responsibility for or giving preference to family law or family
violence matters to complete an additional two hours of training
every two years dedicated to the dynamics of and effects on victims
of family violence; and
(4) [. The rules must] exempt from the training
requirement of this subsection each judge or judicial officer who
files an affidavit stating that the judge or judicial officer does
not hear any cases involving family violence, sexual assault,
trafficking of persons, or child abuse and neglect.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
Court of Criminal Appeals shall adopt the rules necessary to
provide the training required under Section 22.110, Government
Code, as amended by this Act.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 22.110, Government Code, as
amended by this Act, a judge, master, referee, or magistrate who is
in office on the effective date of this Act must complete the
training required by Section 22.110, Government Code, as amended by
this Act, as applicable, not later than December 1, 2025.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.