By Ellis S.B. No. 54 74R1623 DD-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to change of venue in a criminal case. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 31, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 1-5 amended by adding Article 31.011 to read as follows: 1-6 Art. 31.011. DEMOGRAPHIC REQUIREMENTS. (a) In a criminal 1-7 action in which a change of venue is sought, the court shall give 1-8 preference to a county that: 1-9 (1) is in the judicial district where the case is 1-10 pending or in an adjoining district; and 1-11 (2) has the demographics that most closely match those 1-12 of the county in which the case is pending. 1-13 (b) The court may order a change of venue to a county beyond 1-14 an adjoining district if that county more closely matches the 1-15 demographics of the county in which the case is pending. 1-16 (c) In this article, "demographics" means the proportions of 1-17 racial and ethnic minorities in the population according to the 1-18 most recent federal census, including the proportions of 1-19 African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Native Americans. 1-20 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 1-21 SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only 1-22 to a trial that commences on or after the effective date of this 1-23 Act, whether the trial is for an offense committed before, on, or 1-24 after the effective date. 2-1 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.