By:  Gallego                                          H.B. No. 2597
       73R6836 GWK-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the right of a guardian of a victim or close relative
    1-3  of a victim to be present at certain criminal proceedings.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Article 56.02(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
    1-6  amended to read as follows:
    1-7        (b)  A victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a
    1-8  deceased victim is entitled to the right to be present at all
    1-9  public court proceedings related to the offense, subject to the
   1-10  approval of the judge in the case.
   1-11        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-12  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-13  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-14  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-15  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-16  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   1-17  passage, and it is so enacted.