The $25 million deposited in the Sexual Assault Program account (per HB1751) was appropriated by the 80th Texas Legislature in Article IX, Section 19.74 of HB1. The entire text of HB1 can be found here.

In the months leading up to and during the legislative session, TAASA worked with the agencies that could receive appropriations related to HB1751 to ensure that this funding stream was used as a truly comprehensive approach to addressing and preventing sexual violence in Texas communities. As such, the appropriations were broken down into categories: research, prevention, response, adjudication and incarceration.

• The research category includes appropriations to the University of Texas at Austin’s Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Department of State Health Services to conduct studies to learn more about the prevalence of sexual violence in Texas.
• The prevention category includes appropriations for statewide public awareness and prevention focused media campaigns, as well as funds to support prevention programming done by nonprofits, faith-based organizations and others.
• The response category includes funding to ensure that all 254 Texas counties are served by sexual violence victim advocates, in addition to funds to increase the number of certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners across the state.
• The adjudication category includes funding for increased training in the investigation of sexual assault cases for some members of law enforcement, increases the availability of victim assistance coordinators in Texas prosecutors’ offices and finances expanded legal aid for victims of sexual violence.
• The incarceration category increases the availability of sex offender treatment in TYC, privately held youth treatment and TDCJ facilities.