AN ACT

 1-1     relating to characteristics of a defendant that shall not be used

 1-2     by a judge to deny community supervision.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 3, Article 42.12, Code of Criminal

 1-5     Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:

 1-6           (g)  A judge shall not deny community supervision to a

 1-7     defendant based solely on the defendant's inability to speak, read,

 1-8     write, hear, or understand English.

 1-9           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-10           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-11     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-12     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-13     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-14     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1827 passed the Senate on

         May 5, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1827 passed the House on

         May 21, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

         Approved:

         _______________________________

                     Date

         _______________________________

                   Governor