1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the compensation of certain private investigators and
 1-3     witnesses who are retained by appointed counsel.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Article 26.05, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
 1-6     amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
 1-7           (f)  Reimbursement of expenses incurred for purposes of
 1-8     investigation or expert testimony may be paid directly to a private
 1-9     investigator licensed under the Private Investigators and Private
1-10     Security Agencies Act (Article 4413(29bb), Vernon's Texas Civil
1-11     Statutes) or to an expert witness in the manner designated by
1-12     appointed counsel and approved by the court.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Article 26.052(l), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
1-14     amended to read as follows:
1-15           (l)  An attorney appointed under this article to represent a
1-16     defendant at trial or on direct appeal is compensated as provided
1-17     by Article 26.05 from county funds.  Advance payment of expenses
1-18     anticipated or reimbursement of expenses incurred for purposes of
1-19     investigation or expert testimony may be paid directly to a private
1-20     investigator licensed under the Private Investigators and Private
1-21     Security Agencies Act (Article 4413(29bb), Vernon's Texas Civil
1-22     Statutes) or to an expert witness in the manner designated by
1-23     appointed counsel and approved by the court.
1-24           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-1           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-2     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-3     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-4     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-5     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1752 was passed by the House on April
         30, 1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 1752 on May 22, 1999, by a non-record
         vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1752 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 20, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
         0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor