Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas State Representative Jeff Leach has filed House Bill 1343 providing victims of sexual abuse and assault sexual exploitation and kidnapping with further protections to prevent improper contact by their assailant.
Perpetrators of heinous crimes have no business sending harassing and unwanted letters to their victims and this commonsense measure closes a significant loophole that currently exists in state law stated Representative Leach.
Current law provides minors with a legal shield from unwanted contact from their assailant. Representative Leachs change would extend this provision to include victims who were older than 17 years of age during the time of the crime.
Dan Powers Chief Operating Officer for the Childrens Advocacy Center of Collin County expressed his support for House Bill 1343 by stating Sexual assault is an aggressive act motivated by power and control. To continue their assault some sex offenders attempt to contact their victim from prison which could have devastating effects and disrupt the healing process. House Bill 1343 gives power back to the survivor. I support Representative Leachs efforts to protect survivors of sexual assault by closing this loophole in the law.
Born and raised in Plano Representative Leach graduated from Plano Senior High School before attending Baylor University. He earned his law degree from Southern Methodist Universitys Dedman School of Law and currently practices at the Texas law firm of Gray Reed & McGraw LLP. Most recently Leach was selected by Speaker Dennis Bonnen to serve as Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence and was named to serve on the House Committee on Pensions Investments & Financial Services and the House Committee on Redistricting. Leach was recently selected by Speaker Bonnen to serve as the House appointee to the State Preservation Board and he currently serves as a Legislative Member of the Texas Judicial Council. Jeff and his wife Becky an author speaker and artist are the proud parents of Brady (age 10) Charlotte (age 8) and Landry (age 4). They are active members of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano where they have served for several years in the Young Families Ministry.
