Bill Text: TX HB2689 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to certain inmates entering certain pleas by mail or certain secure electronic transmissions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-22 - No action taken in committee [HB2689 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB2689-Introduced.html
By: Deshotel | H.B. No. 2689 |
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relating to certain inmates entering certain pleas by mail or | ||
certain secure electronic transmissions. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 27, Code of Criminal Procedure, is | ||
amended by adding Article 27.19 to read as follows: | ||
Art. 27.19. PLEA BY CERTAIN INMATES. (a) Notwithstanding | ||
any other provision of this code, a court shall accept a written | ||
plea of guilty or nolo contendere with respect to a Class A or B | ||
misdemeanor sent by United States mail or secure electronic or | ||
facsimile transmission from an inmate who is incarcerated in a | ||
facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of | ||
Criminal Justice. | ||
(b) Before accepting a plea under this article, the court | ||
shall verify that the person submitting the plea is: | ||
(1) the same person named in the information; or | ||
(2) a person with legal authority to enter a plea on | ||
behalf of the person named in the information. | ||
(c) A plea submitted under Subsection (a) must be | ||
accompanied by a waiver of jury trial. | ||
SECTION 2. Article 27.19, Code of Criminal Procedure, as | ||
added by this Act, applies to a plea of guilty or nolo contendere | ||
entered on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of | ||
whether the offense with reference to which the plea is entered is | ||
committed before, on, or after that date. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |