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House Bill 2847 |
House Author: Madden |
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Effective: 9-1-11 |
Senate Sponsor: Whitmire |
House Bill 2847 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to authorize a peace officer summoned to testify before a grand jury, with the consent of the foreman of the grand jury and the attorney representing the state, to testify through the use of a closed circuit video teleconferencing system that meets certain requirements. The bill requires certain affirmations from the peace officer, provides for the recording of the officer's testimony, and sets out provisions relating to the person operating a video teleconferencing system in a grand jury room during proceedings and to the record of a plea made through closed circuit video teleconferencing. Additionally, the bill authorizes any deposition or testimony of an inmate witness in custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice who is required to testify in a criminal proceeding to be conducted by a closed circuit video teleconferencing system, rather than by electronic means in the same manner as civil cases.