BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 2662
                                           By: Naishtat (Shapiro)
                                                 Criminal Justice
                                                         05-22-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Article 21.07 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was written in
1965.  The article referred to the term "Christian name" to refer
to an individuals first or given name.  This is the only instance
in which this term appears.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2662 replaces the term "Christian" name with
"given" name for a defendant in an indictment.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article 21.07, Code of Criminal Procedure, to
provide that in alleging the name of the defendant, it is
sufficient to state one or more of the initials of the given name,
rather than Christian name, and the surname.

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.