The bill, titled the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Act, aims to establish the Office of Community Violence Intervention and Prevention within the Department of State Health Services. It introduces Chapter 56 to the Health and Safety Code, which outlines the office's purpose, including coordinating violence intervention and prevention activities, reducing interpersonal violence and homicide, and collaborating with various stakeholders to develop evidence-based policies and strategies. The office will also be responsible for conducting public health campaigns and creating a directory of available violence intervention and prevention services across Texas.
Additionally, the bill establishes a grant program to support violence intervention and prevention initiatives in communities disproportionately affected by violence. The office will administer this program, which includes forming a grant review advisory committee composed of individuals with personal experiences related to violence and those with expertise in evidence-based violence reduction initiatives. The bill outlines eligibility and application requirements for grant recipients, emphasizing the need for evidence-based approaches to reduce violence and improve public safety. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with the office required to be established by December 1, 2025.
Statutes affected: Introduced: ()