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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the preference given by trial courts to hearings and |
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trials for murder and capital murder offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 23.101(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), the trial courts |
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of this state shall regularly and frequently set hearings and |
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trials of pending matters, giving preference to hearings and trials |
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of the following: |
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(1) temporary injunctions; |
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(2) criminal actions, with the following actions given |
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preference over other criminal actions: |
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(A) criminal actions against defendants who are |
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detained in jail pending trial; |
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(B) criminal actions involving a charge that a |
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person committed an act of family violence, as defined by Section |
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71.004, Family Code; |
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(C) an offense under: |
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(i) Section 19.02, 19.03, 21.02, or 21.11, |
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Penal Code; |
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(ii) Chapter 22, Penal Code, if the victim |
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of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age; |
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(iii) Section 25.02, Penal Code, if the |
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victim of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age; |
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(iv) Section 25.06, Penal Code; |
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(v) Section 43.25, Penal Code; or |
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(vi) Section 20A.02(a)(7), 20A.02(a)(8), |
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or 20A.03, Penal Code; |
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(D) an offense described by Article 62.001(6)(C) |
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or (D), Code of Criminal Procedure; and |
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(E) criminal actions against persons who are |
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detained as provided by Section 51.12, Family Code, after transfer |
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for prosecution in criminal court under Section 54.02, Family Code; |
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(3) election contests and suits under the Election |
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Code; |
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(4) orders for the protection of the family under |
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Subtitle B, Title 4, Family Code; |
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(5) appeals of final rulings and decisions of the |
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division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of |
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Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims and claims under |
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the Federal Employers' Liability Act and the Jones Act; |
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(6) appeals of final orders of the commissioner of the |
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General Land Office under Section 51.3021, Natural Resources Code; |
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(7) actions in which the claimant has been diagnosed |
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with malignant mesothelioma, other malignant asbestos-related |
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cancer, malignant silica-related cancer, or acute silicosis; and |
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(8) appeals brought under Section 42.01 or 42.015, Tax |
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Code, of orders of appraisal review boards of appraisal districts |
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established for counties with a population of less than 175,000. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |