BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 2662
By: Naishtat
5-3-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

Article 21.07 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was written in over
30 years ago, in 1965.  It included the term "Christian name" to
refer to an individual's first or given name.  This is the only
instance that the term "Christian name" appears in Vernon's Texas
Statutes.

PURPOSE

H.B. 2662 would make a non-substantive change to the statue by
replacing the term "Christian" name with "given" name.  This change
would make the terminology in Article 21.07 consistent with the
rest of Texas statute.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article 21.07 of the Code of Criminal Procedure
           by striking the word "Christian" and substituting the
           word "given" in reference to a name stated in an
           indictment.  There are no changes in the intent of the
           statute.

SECTION 2. Provides that the law shall be implemented as follows:

           (a) This act applies only to offenses not committed
           before the September 1, 1995 effective date and defines
           such offenses to be those of which any element of the
           offense occurs before September 1, 1995. 

           (b) Offenses committed before September 1, 1995, are
           governed by the law in effect when the offense was
           committed.

SECTION 3. Effective date.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

HB 2662 was considered by the full committee in a public hearing on
May 3, 1995.  HB 2662 was reported favorably without amendment,
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent
to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote
of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, and 3 absent.