TX HB2247

Authorizes county commissioners courts to establish family violence court programs for individuals arrested, charged, or convicted of misdemeanor offenses involving family violence, with the option for multiple counties to create regional programs

Requires programs to integrate educational and rehabilitative services, including battering intervention and prevention programs, while considering victim health and safety and using a nonadversarial approach between prosecutors and defense attorneys

Allows courts to dismiss cases and issue nondisclosure orders for defendants who successfully complete the program, provided they have no prior convictions for certain serious offenses and commit no family violence offenses within two years of completion

Permits programs to collect a reimbursement fee of up to $1,000 from participants, based on ability to pay, with fees paid periodically or on a deferred schedule and used only for program purposes

Adds family violence court programs to the definition of "specialty court" under Texas law, making them eligible for grant funding evaluation and best practices recommendations from the Specialty Courts Advisory Council