SRC-JBJ S.B. 557 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 557 By: Lucio Criminal Justice 7/21/1999 Enrolled DIGEST Currently, courts are not authorized to provide the names and addresses of persons presenting evidence for the defense, under Rules 702, 703, and 705, Texas Rules of Evidence, to the prosecutor. Defense lawyers may request and obtain this information from the prosecutor as part of the discovery process. Due to the technical nature of an expert's testimony, the state should also be allowed to know previous to trial what experts the defense will call. Although the reciprocal measure will not jeopardize the defendant's case, the discovery could make the testimony at trial more efficient. S.B. 557 will authorize a court to disclose the names and addresses of persons presenting evidence under Rules 702, 703, and 705, Texas Rules of Evidence. PURPOSE As enrolled, S.B. 557 authorizes a court to disclose the names and addresses of persons presenting evidence under Rules 702, 703, and 705, Texas Rules of Evidence. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Article 39.14, Code of Criminal Procedure, to authorize a court, on motion of a party and on notice to other parties, to disclose to the party making the motion the names and addresses of persons presenting for the evidence for the other party under authority of Rules 702, 703, and 705, Texas Rules of Evidence. Requires the court to specify in the order the time and manner in which the other party must make the disclosure to the moving party, but in specifying the time in which the other party shall make disclosure the court shall require the other party to make the disclosure not later than the 20th day before the date the trial begins. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3.Emergency clause.