Bill Text: TX HB564 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the admissibility of certain evidence in capital cases in which the state seeks the death penalty.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-29 - Left pending in committee [HB564 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB564-Introduced.html
  84R2843 MAW-D
 
  By: Dutton H.B. No. 564
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the admissibility of certain evidence in capital cases
  in which the state seeks the death penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 38, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Article 38.50 to read as follows:
         Art. 38.50.  EVIDENCE IN CERTAIN DEATH PENALTY CASES. (a)
  This article applies only to a capital case in which the state seeks
  the death penalty.
         (b)  Regardless of whether the testimony constitutes
  sufficient corroboration under Article 38.14, testimony of an
  informant or of an alleged accomplice of the defendant is not
  admissible if the testimony is given in exchange for a grant or
  promise by the attorney representing the state or by another of
  immunity from prosecution, reduction of sentence, or any other form
  of leniency or special treatment.
         (c)  A statement against interest made by the defendant to a
  person who at the time of the alleged statement was in custody with
  or imprisoned or confined with the defendant is admissible only if
  the statement is corroborated by an electronic recording.
         SECTION 2.  Article 38.50, Code of Criminal Procedure, as
  added by this Act, applies only to the admissibility of evidence in
  a capital case in which the voir dire examination begins on or after
  the effective date of this Act. A capital case in which the voir
  dire examination begins before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect when the examination begins, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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