By Keel H.B. No. 122
76R2006 GWK-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the authority of a peace officer to make a warrantless
1-3 arrest.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Article 14.04, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 Art. 14.04. WHEN A FELONY HAS BEEN COMMITTED. If [Where it
1-8 is shown by satisfactory proof to] a peace officer has probable
1-9 cause to believe[, upon the representation of a credible person,]
1-10 that a felony has been committed by an[, and that the] offender and
1-11 that exigent circumstances exist [is about to escape], the [so that
1-12 there is no time to procure a warrant, such] peace officer may[,]
1-13 without a warrant[, pursue and] arrest the offender [accused].
1-14 SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies
1-15 only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
1-16 Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before
1-17 the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs
1-18 before the effective date.
1-19 (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this
1-20 Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,
1-21 and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
1-22 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-23 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.