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From the 2005 Regular Session of the Texas Legislature

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See caveat and source notes at the 79th Regular Session page)

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	H.B. No. 291



AN ACT



relating to victim notification regarding
the release of certain defendants following acquittal
by reason of insanity.


BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
STATE OF TEXAS:


SECTION 1.  Section 4(d), Article 46.03,
Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Subdivision
(8) to read as follows:


	(8)  Victim Notification of Release.
 If the court issues an order under Subdivision (4)
or (5) that requires the release of an acquitted person
on discharge or on a regimen of outpatient care, the
clerk of the court issuing the order, using the information
provided on any victim impact statement received by
the court under Article 56.03 or other information
made available to the court, shall provide name, address,
and phone number information to the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice victim services division to enable
the division to notify the victim or the victim's guardian
or close relative of the release.  The victim services
division shall notify any victim or guardian or close
relative named in the victim impact statement or other
information.  Notwithstanding Article 56.03(f), the
clerk of the court may inspect a victim impact statement
for the purpose of notification under this subdivision.


SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September
1, 2005.




______________________________	______________________________


   President of the Senate	Speaker of the
House      


I certify that H.B. No. 291 was passed
by the House on April 18, 2005, by a non-record vote.



______________________________




Chief Clerk of the
House   



I certify that H.B. No. 291 was passed
by the Senate on May 24, 2005, by the following vote:
 Yeas 31, Nays 0.



______________________________




Secretary of the Senate
   



APPROVED:  _____________________


                    Date          


           _____________________


                  Governor