TITLE: Relating to psychological counseling for certain grand jurors.

SUMMARY: Relating to psychological counseling for certain grand jurors.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to psychological counseling for certain grand jurors. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 56.04(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows: (f) The commissioners court may approve a program in which the crime victim liaison or victim assistance coordinator may offer not more than 10 hours of post-investigation or posttrial psychological counseling for a person who serves as a grand juror, alternate grand juror, juror,or [an] alternate juror in a grand jury investigation or criminal trial involving graphic evidence or testimony and who requests the post-investigation or posttrial psychological counseling not later than the 180th day after the date on which the grand jury or jury [in the trial] is dismissed. The crime victim liaison or victim assistance coordinator may provide the counseling using a provider that assists local criminal justice agencies in providing similar services to victims. SECTION 2. Section 61.003(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) Each person who reports for jury service shall be personally provided a form letter that when signed by the person directs the county treasurer to donate all, or a specific amount designated by the person, of the person's daily reimbursement under this chapter to: (1) the compensation to victims of crime fund under Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure; (2) the child welfare, child protective services, or child services board of the county appointed under Section 264.005, Family Code, that serves abused and neglected children; (3) any program selected by the commissioners court that is operated by a public or private nonprofit organization and that provides shelter and services to victims of family violence; (4) any other program approved by the commissioners court of the county, including a program established under Article 56.04(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, that offers psychological counseling [to jurors] in criminal cases involving graphic evidence or testimony; or (5) a veterans court program established by the commissioners court as provided by Chapter 124. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.