By Rangel                                             H.B. No. 1263
       74R4458 GWK-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the disposition of forfeited criminal contraband.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Article 59.06(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
    1-5  amended to read as follows:
    1-6        (b)  If a local agreement exists between the attorney
    1-7  representing the state and law enforcement agencies, the attorney
    1-8  representing the state may transfer the property to law enforcement
    1-9  agencies to maintain, repair, use, and operate the property for
   1-10  official purposes if the property is free of any interest of an
   1-11  interest holder.  The agency receiving the forfeited property may
   1-12  purchase the interest of an interest holder so that the property
   1-13  can be released for use by the agency.  The agency receiving the
   1-14  forfeited property may maintain, repair, use, and operate the
   1-15  property with money appropriated for current operations.  If the
   1-16  property is a motor vehicle subject to registration under the motor
   1-17  vehicle registration laws of this state, the agency receiving the
   1-18  forfeited vehicle is considered to be the purchaser and the
   1-19  certificate of title shall issue to the agency.  The agency at any
   1-20  time may transfer the property to a municipal or county <law
   1-21  enforcement> agency for the use of that agency.
   1-22        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-23  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-24  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-1  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-2  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-3  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-4  passage, and it is so enacted.