By Dutton                                        H.B. No. 642

      75R2336 JMC-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to a bill of particulars in a criminal case.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 27, Code of Criminal Procedure, is

 1-5     amended by adding Article 27.081 to read as follows:

 1-6           Art. 27.081.  BILL OF PARTICULARS.  (a)  The court on motion

 1-7     of the defendant may require the attorney representing the state to

 1-8     file a bill of particulars.

 1-9           (b)  The attorney representing the state may amend a bill of

1-10     particulars at any time subject to any conditions the court may

1-11     require.

1-12           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-13           SECTION 3.  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.