HB 3268
AN ACT relating to the denial or reduction of an award otherwise payable
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Allows the attorney general to deny or reduce crime victims' compensation awards under specific circumstances, such as when the victim has not cooperated with law enforcement, bears partial responsibility for the incident, or was engaged in illegal activity related to the criminal conduct. The changes apply only to criminal incidents occurring on or after September 1, 2025, potentially limiting compensation for victims who are deemed partially culpable or non-cooperative with authorities.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the denial or reduction of an award otherwise payable under the Crime Victims' Compensation Act. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article 56B.107(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, (a) Except as otherwise provided by this article, the attorney general may deny or reduce an award otherwise payable: (1) if the claimant or victim has not substantially cooperated with an appropriate law enforcement agency; (2) if, as a result of the claimant's or victim's behavior, the claimant or victim bears a share of the responsibility for the act or omission giving rise to the claim; (3) to the extent that pecuniary loss is recouped from (4) if the claimant or victim was engaging in an activity that at the time of the criminally injurious conduct was: (A) prohibited by law, including a rule; and (B) related to the criminally injurious conduct. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to compensation for criminally injurious conduct occurring on or after the effective date of this Act. Compensation for criminally injurious conduct occurring before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, criminally injurious conduct occurred before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense underlying the conduct occurred before that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the denial or reduction of an award otherwise payable
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