Tex.
Gov't Code Section 772.0061
Specialty Courts Advisory Council
(a)
In this section:(1)
“Council” means the Specialty Courts Advisory Council.(2)
“Specialty court” means:(A)
a commercially sexually exploited persons court program established under Chapter 126 (Commercially Sexually Exploited Persons Court Program) or former law;(B)
a family drug court program established under Chapter 122 (Family Drug Court Program) or former law;(C)
a drug court program established under Chapter 123 (Drug Court Programs) or former law;(D)
a veterans treatment court program established under Chapter 124 (Veterans Treatment Court Program) or former law;(E)
a mental health court program established under Chapter 125 (Mental Health Court Programs) or former law;(F)
a public safety employees treatment court program established under Chapter 129 (Public Safety Employees Treatment Court Program); and(G)
a juvenile family drug court program established under Chapter 130 (Juvenile Family Drug Court Program).(b)
The governor shall establish the Specialty Courts Advisory Council within the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006 (Governor’s Criminal Justice Division) to:(1)
evaluate applications for grant funding for specialty courts in this state and to make funding recommendations to the criminal justice division; and(2)
make recommendations to the Texas Judicial Council, the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System, and the criminal justice division regarding best practices for specialty courts established under Chapter 122 (Family Drug Court Program), 123 (Drug Court Programs), 124 (Veterans Treatment Court Program), 125 (Mental Health Court Programs), 129 (Public Safety Employees Treatment Court Program), or 130 (Juvenile Family Drug Court Program), or former law.(c)
The council is composed of nine members appointed by the governor as follows:(1)
four members, each of whom has experience as the judge of at least one specialty court described by Subsection (a)(2); and(2)
five members who represent the public.(d)
The members appointed under Subsection (c)(5) must:(1)
reside in various geographic regions of the state; and(2)
have experience practicing law in a specialty court or possess knowledge and expertise in a field relating to behavioral or mental health issues or to substance abuse treatment.(e)
Members are appointed for staggered six-year terms, with the terms of three members expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year.(f)
A person may not be a member of the council if the person is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305 (Registration of Lobbyists) because of the person’s activities for compensation on behalf of a profession related to the operation of the council.(g)
If a vacancy occurs on the council, the governor shall appoint a person to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.(h)
The council shall select a presiding officer.(i)
The council shall meet at the call of its presiding officer or at the request of the governor.(j)
A member of the council may not receive compensation for service on the council. The member may receive reimbursement from the criminal justice division for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing council functions as provided by Section 2110.004 (Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses; Appropriations Process).
Source:
Section 772.0061 — Specialty Courts Advisory Council, https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.772.htm#772.0061 (accessed Jun. 5, 2024).
