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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the prosecution of a capital murder committed against a |
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peace officer or fireman. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Richard Houston II |
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Act. |
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SECTION 2. Section 19.03, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), the actor is presumed |
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to have known the person murdered was a peace officer or fireman if |
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the person: |
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(1) was wearing a distinctive uniform or badge |
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indicating the person's employment as a peace officer or fireman; |
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or |
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(2) made an identification as a peace officer or |
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fireman to the actor. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |