Sec. 96.651.  CRIME VICTIMS' INSTITUTE ADVISORY COUNCIL.  (a)  In this section:
(1)  "Advisory council" means the Crime Victims' Institute Advisory Council.
(2)  "Victim" has the meaning assigned by Article 56A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b)  The Crime Victims' Institute Advisory Council is created as an advisory council to the Crime Victims' Institute.
(c)  The advisory council is composed of the attorney general and the following individuals, each of whom is appointed by the governor:
(1)  a victim;
(2)  a member of the house of representatives;
(3)  a member of the senate;
(4)  a county judge or district judge whose primary responsibility is to preside over criminal cases;
(5)  a district attorney, criminal district attorney, county attorney who prosecutes felony offenses, or county attorney who prosecutes mostly criminal cases;
(6)  a law enforcement officer;
(7)  a crime victims' assistance coordinator;
(8)  a crime victims' liaison;
(9)  a mental health professional with substantial experience in the care and treatment of victims;
(10)  a person with broad knowledge of sexual assault issues;
(11)  a person with broad knowledge of domestic violence issues;
(12)  a person with broad knowledge of child abuse issues;
(13)  a person with broad knowledge of issues relating to the intoxication offenses described by Chapter 49, Penal Code;
(14)  a person with broad knowledge of homicide issues;
(15)  a person with broad knowledge of research methods;  and
(16)  a designee of the governor.
(d)  The advisory council shall select a presiding officer from among the council members and other officers that the council considers necessary.
(e)  The advisory council shall meet at the call of the presiding officer.
(f)  Appointed members of the advisory council serve for staggered two-year terms, with the terms of eight of the members expiring on January 31 of each even-numbered year and the terms of eight members expiring on January 31 of each odd-numbered year.
(g)  Service on the advisory council by a public officer or employee is an additional duty of the office or employment.
(h)  A member of the advisory council serves without compensation for service on the council but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred while performing council duties.
(i)  The advisory council may establish advisory task forces or committees that the council considers necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section and Sections 96.65 and 96.652.
(j)  The advisory council shall advise the Crime Victims' Institute on issues relating directly to the duties of the institute as set forth under Section 96.65(d).
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 485, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Redesignated and amended from Government Code Sec. 412.051 to 412.057 by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 927, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B. 4173), Sec. 2.24, eff. January 1, 2021.