Bill Text: TX HB803 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the filing of a complaint for certain misdemeanor offenses.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-11 - Left pending in committee [HB803 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB803-Introduced.html

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84R155 AJZ-D
By: Wu H.B. No. 803

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the filing of a complaint for certain misdemeanor
offenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 27.14(d), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
(d) If written notice of an offense for which maximum
possible punishment is by fine only or of a violation relating to
the manner, time, and place of parking has been prepared,
delivered, and filed with the court and a legible duplicate copy has
been given to the defendant, the written notice serves as a
complaint to which the defendant may plead "guilty," "not guilty,"
or "nolo contendere." If the defendant pleads "not guilty" to the
offense or fails to appear based on the written notice, a peace
officer or an attorney representing the state shall file a
complaint [shall be filed] that conforms to the requirements of
Chapter 45 [of this code], and that complaint serves as an original
complaint. A defendant may waive the filing of a sworn complaint
and elect that the prosecution proceed on the written notice of the
charged offense if the defendant agrees in writing with the
prosecution, signs the agreement, and files it with the court.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.