By Pitts, Romo                                         H.B. No. 995
       74R269 DAK-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to admissibility in evidence of an electronically
    1-3  digitized copy of a check.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Chapter 35, Business & Commerce Code, is amended
    1-6  by adding Section 35.49 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 35.49.  ELECTRONICALLY DIGITIZED COPY OF CHECK.  An
    1-8  electronically digitized copy of a check provided in the regular
    1-9  course of business by a financial institution from its optical
   1-10  storage facilities is as admissible in evidence as the original
   1-11  check in a judicial or administrative proceeding, without regard to
   1-12  whether the original check is in existence.
   1-13        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-14  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-15  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-16  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-17  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-18  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   1-19  passage, and it is so enacted.