Bill Text: TX HB95 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 95 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the exclusion of certain witnesses during a criminal proceeding.

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 4-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-08 - Left pending in committee [HB95 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB95-Introduced.html

	84R1594 MEW-D

	By: Fletcher	H.B. No. 95



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the exclusion of certain witnesses during a criminal
	proceeding.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Article 36.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
	amended by adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:
	(f) The prosecuting attorney may designate one person who is
	an officer or employee of a party that is not a natural person to
	serve as the state's courtroom representative during a criminal
	proceeding. Notwithstanding Rule 614, Texas Rules of Evidence, a
	court may not exclude under this article or that rule a person who
	has been designated as a courtroom representative under this
	subsection unless the person is a law enforcement officer who
	violates Subsection (g).
	(g) A law enforcement officer who is designated as the
	state's courtroom representative under Subsection (f) may not wear
	a law enforcement uniform or badge while serving as that
	representative.
	SECTION 2. Under the terms of Section 22.109(b), Government
	Code, Rule 614, Texas Rules of Evidence, is disapproved to the
	extent that Rule 614 permits the exclusion of a witness who is
	designated by the prosecuting attorney as the state's courtroom
	representative in a criminal case from hearing the testimony of
	other witnesses in the case.
	SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
	criminal proceeding that commences on or after the effective date
	of this Act. A criminal proceeding that commences before the
	effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the
	proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for
	that purpose.
	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.