Bill Text: TX HB543 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 543 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the admissibility of certain confessions in capital cases.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-29 - Left pending in committee [HB543 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB543-Introduced.html

	82R3015 GCB-D

	By: Dutton	H.B. No. 543



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the admissibility of certain confessions in capital
	cases.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 3, Article 38.22, Code of Criminal
	Procedure, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding
	Subsection (f) to read as follows:
	(a) No oral or sign language statement of an accused made as
	a result of custodial interrogation shall be admissible against the
	accused in a criminal proceeding unless:
	(1) an electronic recording[~~, which may include motion~~
	~~picture, video tape, or other visual recording,~~] is made of the
	statement;
	(2) prior to the statement but during the recording
	the accused is given the warning in Subsection (a) of Section 2
	above and the accused knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily
	waives any rights set out in the warning;
	(3) the recording device was capable of making an
	accurate recording, the operator was competent, and the recording
	is accurate and has not been altered;
	(4) all voices on the recording are identified; and
	(5) not later than the 20th day before the date of the
	proceeding, the attorney representing the defendant is provided
	with a true, complete, and accurate copy of all recordings of the
	defendant made under this article.
	(f) If the accused is charged with an offense other than a
	capital offense, the electronic recording required by Subsection
	(a) may consist of an audio recording or a motion picture,
	videotape, or other visual recording. If the accused is charged
	with a capital offense, the electronic recording must consist of a
	motion picture, videotape, or other visual recording.
	SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a statement made on or
	after the effective date of this Act. A statement made before the
	effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the
	statement was made, and the former law is continued in effect for
	that purpose.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.