(1)  Amend CSSB 121 by striking all below the enacting clause
and substituting in lieu thereof the following:
      SECTION 1.  Chapter 27, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Article 27.18 to read as follows:
      Art. 27.18.  PLEA OR WAIVER OF RIGHTS BY CLOSED CIRCUIT VIDEO
TELECONFERENCING.  (a)  Notwithstanding any provision of this code
requiring that a plea or a waiver of a defendant's right be made in
open court, a court may accept the plea or waiver by broadcast by
closed circuit video teleconferencing to the court if:
            (1)  the defendant and the attorney representing the
state file with the court written consent to the use of closed
circuit video teleconferencing;
            (2)  the closed circuit video teleconferencing system
provides for a simultaneous, compressed full motion video, and
interactive communication of image and sound between the judge, the
attorney representing the state, the defendant, and the defendant's
attorney; and
            (3)  on request of the defendant, the defendant and the
defendant's attorney are able to communicate privately without
being recorded or heard by the judge or the attorney representing
the state.
      (b)  On motion of the defendant or the attorney representing
the state or in the court's discretion, the court may terminate an
appearance by closed circuit video teleconferencing at any time
during the appearance and require an appearance by the defendant in
open court.
      (c)  A recording of the communication shall be made and
preserved until the 120th day after the date the recording is made.
The defendant may obtain a copy of the recording on payment of a
reasonable amount to cover the costs of reproduction.
      SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
passage, and it is so enacted.
      (2)  Amend CSSB 121 by striking all above the enacting clause
and substituting in lieu thereof the following:
relating to the use of closed circuit video teleconferencing to
enter a plea or waive a right in a criminal case.