| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a statement presented in a criminal case by a victim, |
|
|
close relative of a deceased victim, or guardian of a victim. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 1, Article 42.03, Code of Criminal |
|
|
Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
|
|
(c) The court may not impose a limit on the number of |
|
|
victims, close relatives, or guardians who may appear and present |
|
|
statements under Subsection (b) unless the court finds that |
|
|
additional statements would unreasonably delay the proceeding. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
|
|
defendant who is sentenced for an offense on or after the effective |
|
|
date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense is committed |
|
|
before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |