2013 Texas Statutes
GOVERNMENT CODE
TITLE 4 - EXECUTIVE BRANCH
SUBTITLE B - LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC PROTECTION
CHAPTER 420A - OFFICE OF VIOLENT SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT

GOVERNMENT CODE

TITLE 4. EXECUTIVE BRANCH

SUBTITLE B. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC PROTECTION

CHAPTER 420A. OFFICE OF VIOLENT SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT

Sec. 420A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Board" means the governing board of the Office of Violent Sex Offender Management.

(2) "Office" means the Office of Violent Sex Offender Management.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 420A.002. OFFICE; GOVERNING BOARD. (a) The Office of Violent Sex Offender Management is a state agency.

(b) The office is governed by a board composed of the following three members appointed by the governor:

(1) one member experienced in the management of sex offenders;

(2) one member experienced in the investigation or prosecution of sex offenses; and

(3) one member experienced in counseling or advocating on behalf of victims of sexual assault.

(c) Members of the board serve staggered two-year terms. Two members' terms expire February 1 of each even-numbered year and one member's term expires February 1 of each odd-numbered year.

(d) A member of the board is entitled to travel expenses incurred in performing official duties and to a per diem equal to the maximum amount allowed on January 1 of that year for federal employees per diem for federal income tax purposes, subject to the same limitations provided for members of state boards and commissions in the General Appropriations Act.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 420A.003. PRESIDING OFFICER; MEETINGS. (a) The governor shall designate a member of the board as presiding officer. The presiding officer serves at the discretion of the governor.

(b) The board shall meet at least quarterly and at other times at the call of the presiding officer.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 420A.004. SUNSET PROVISION. The Office of Violent Sex Offender Management is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the office is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2023.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 420A.005. GRANTS AND DONATIONS. On behalf of the state, the office may apply for and accept grants and donations from any source to be used by the office in the performance of the duties of the office.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 420A.006. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION. The office shall prepare information of public interest describing the functions of the office and the procedures by which complaints are filed with and resolved by the office. The office shall make the information available to the public and appropriate state agencies.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 420A.007. BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the office shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a report concerning the operation of the office. The office may include in the report any recommendations that the office considers appropriate.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 420A.008. STAFF. The office may select and employ a general counsel, staff attorneys, and other staff necessary to perform the office's functions.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 420A.009. SALARY CAREER LADDER FOR CASE MANAGERS. (a) The board shall adopt a salary career ladder for case managers. The salary career ladder must base a case manager's salary on the manager's classification and years of service with the office.

(b) For purposes of the salary schedule, the office shall classify all case manager positions as Case Manager I, Case Manager II, Case Manager III, Case Manager IV, or Case Manager V.

(c) Under the salary career ladder adopted under Subsection (a), a case manager to whom the schedule applies and who received an overall evaluation of at least satisfactory in the case manager's most recent annual evaluation is entitled to an annual salary increase, during each of the case manager's first 10 years of service in a designated case manager classification as described by Subsection (b), equal to one-tenth of the difference between:

(1) the case manager's current annual salary; and

(2) the minimum annual salary of a case manager in the next highest classification.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 420A.010. POWERS AND DUTIES. The office shall perform appropriate functions related to the sex offender civil commitment program provided under Chapter 841, Health and Safety Code, including functions related to the provision of treatment and supervision to civilly committed sex offenders.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.

Sec. 420A.011. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT; SUPPORT. (a) The office is administratively attached to the Department of State Health Services.

(b) The Department of State Health Services shall provide administrative support services, including human resources, budgetary, accounting, purchasing, payroll, information technology, and legal support services, to the office as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(c) The office, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Legislative Budget Board, shall prepare, approve, and submit a legislative appropriations request that is separate from the legislative appropriations request for the Department of State Health Services and is used to develop the office's budget structure. The office shall maintain the office's legislative appropriations request and budget structure separately from those of the department.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1201, Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.