1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to recording of proceedings in a county court at law in

 1-3     Medina County.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 25.1652, Government Code, is amended by

 1-6     adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:

 1-7           (j)  A judge of a county court at law may provide that any

 1-8     criminal proceeding in the county court at law be recorded by a

 1-9     good quality electronic recording device instead of by a court

1-10     reporter unless, on written motion filed with the court not later

1-11     than the 10th day before the trial, the defendant requests that a

1-12     court reporter be present.  If a recording device is used, the

1-13     court reporter need not be present at the proceeding to certify the

1-14     statement of facts.

1-15           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-20     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-21     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 3060 was passed by the House on May

         2, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 2 present, not

         voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 3060 was passed by the Senate on May

         19, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor