By: Smithee H.B. No. 2834 73R7443 CLG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the authority of a court to conduct certain criminal 1-3 proceedings by using a closed circuit television. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 26, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 1-6 amended by adding Article 26.16 to read as follows: 1-7 Art. 26.16. PROCEEDINGS CONDUCTED BY CLOSED CIRCUIT 1-8 TELEVISION. The court may use a closed circuit television system 1-9 that provides a two-way communication of image and sound between 1-10 the court and the defendant in a proceeding under this chapter in 1-11 which the: 1-12 (1) defendant enters a plea; or 1-13 (2) identity of the defendant is fixed and the plea of 1-14 the defendant is heard. 1-15 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-20 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-21 passage, and it is so enacted.