By:  Schechter                                        H.B. No. 1015
       73R5922 GWK-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the application for or issuance of arrest and search
    1-3  warrants by means of electronic or electromagnetic facsimile
    1-4  devices.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Chapter 15, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
    1-7  amended by adding Article 15.111 to read as follows:
    1-8        Art. 15.111.  APPLYING FOR OR ISSUING ARREST WARRANT BY
    1-9  FACSIMILE DEVICE.  (a)  An attorney representing the state may
   1-10  transmit to a magistrate by electronic or electromagnetic facsimile
   1-11  device all information necessary for an application for the
   1-12  issuance of an arrest warrant.
   1-13        (b)  A magistrate may transmit by electronic or
   1-14  electromagnetic facsimile device an arrest warrant issued by the
   1-15  magistrate in conformity with the requirements of this chapter.
   1-16        (c)  The Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial
   1-17  System shall adopt standards for the paper quality and durability
   1-18  of information transmitted under this article.
   1-19        SECTION 2.  Chapter 18, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
   1-20  amended by adding Article 18.011 to read as follows:
   1-21        Art. 18.011.  APPLYING FOR OR ISSUING SEARCH WARRANT BY
   1-22  FACSIMILE DEVICE.  (a)  An attorney representing the state may
   1-23  transmit to a magistrate by electronic or electromagnetic facsimile
   1-24  device all information necessary for an application for the
    2-1  issuance of a search warrant.
    2-2        (b)  A magistrate may transmit by electronic or
    2-3  electromagnetic facsimile device a search warrant issued by the
    2-4  magistrate in conformity with the requirements of this chapter.
    2-5        (c)  The Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial
    2-6  System shall adopt standards for the paper quality and durability
    2-7  of information transmitted under this article.
    2-8        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-9  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-10  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-11  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-12  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-13  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-14  passage, and it is so enacted.