Sec. 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 or former law;

(B) a family drug court program established under Chapter 122 or former law;

(C) a drug court program established under Chapter 123 or former law;

(D) a veterans treatment court program established under Chapter 124 or former law;

(E) a mental health court program established under Chapter 125 or former law; and

(F) a public safety employees treatment court program established under Chapter 129.

(b) The governor shall establish the Specialty Courts Advisory Council within the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006 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 criminal justice division regarding best practices for specialty courts established under Chapter 122, 123, 124, 125, or 129 or former law.

(c) The council is composed of nine members appointed by the governor as follows:

(1) one member with experience as the judge of a specialty court described by Subsection (a)(2)(A);

(2) one member with experience as the judge of a specialty court described by Subsection (a)(2)(B);

(3) one member with experience as the judge of a specialty court described by Subsection (a)(2)(C);

(4) one member with experience as the judge of a specialty court described by Subsection (a)(2)(D); and

(5) 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 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.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 287 (H.B. 1771), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 747 (S.B. 462), Sec. 1.08, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 747 (S.B. 462), Sec. 1.09, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1167 (S.B. 484), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 604 (S.B. 536), Sec. 3, eff. June 16, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1205 (S.B. 1474), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1236 (S.B. 1296), Sec. 9.009, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 369 (H.B. 3391), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 369 (H.B. 3391), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2017.