Bill Text: TX HB3502 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the disposal of exhibits used in criminal proceedings.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-18 - Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence [HB3502 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB3502-Introduced.html
  86R12516 AJZ-F
 
  By: González of Dallas H.B. No. 3502
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the disposal of exhibits used in criminal proceedings.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 2.21, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsection
  (e-1) to read as follows:
         (d)  In this article, "eligible exhibit" means an exhibit
  filed with the clerk that:
               (1)  is not a firearm or contraband;
               (2)  has not been ordered by the court to be returned to
  its owner; and
               (3)  is not an exhibit in any other [another pending]
  criminal action that is pending final disposition.
         (e)  An eligible exhibit may be disposed of as provided by
  this article:
               (1)  on or after the first anniversary of the date on
  which a conviction becomes final in the case, if the case is a
  misdemeanor [or a felony for which the sentence imposed by the court
  is five years or less];
               (2)  on or after the second anniversary of the date on
  which a conviction becomes final in the case, if the case is a
  [non-capital] felony for which the sentence imposed by the court is
  [greater than] five years or less;
               (3)  on or after the 10th anniversary of the date on
  which a conviction becomes final in the case, if the case is a
  noncapital felony for which the sentence imposed by the court is
  greater than five years;
               (4)  on or after the first anniversary of the date of
  the acquittal of a defendant; or
               (5) [(4)]  on or after the first anniversary of the
  date of the death of a defendant.
         (e-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (e), if the exhibit is
  filed in the trial of more than one criminal case, an eligible
  exhibit may be disposed of beginning on the expiration of the
  longest period that remains applicable, calculated for each trial
  according to the dates specified under Subsection (e)(1), (2), (3),
  (4), or (5), on the date the exhibit becomes an eligible exhibit
  under Subsection (d).
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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