Bill Text: TX HB2258 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the confidentiality of certain witness names listed in an indictment.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-09 - Left pending in committee [HB2258 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB2258-Introduced.html

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83R8889 MEW-F
By: Moody H.B. No. 2258

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the confidentiality of certain witness names listed in
an indictment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 20.20, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 20.20. INDICTMENT PREPARED. (a) The attorney
representing the State shall prepare all indictments which have
been found, with as little delay as possible, and deliver them to
the foreman, who shall sign the same officially, and said attorney
shall endorse thereon the names of the witnesses upon whose
testimony the same was found.
(b) A pseudonym may be used instead of the name of a witness
under Subsection (a) if:
(1) nine members of the grand jury vote that
disclosing the name of the witness would place the witness in danger
of retaliation; or
(2) the attorney representing the state claims the
identity of informer privilege under Rule 508, Texas Rules of
Evidence.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.