By Armbrister                                         S.B. No. 1125
         76R8696 T                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to mediation in criminal cases.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Article 26.13 of the Code of Criminal Procedure
 1-5     is amended by adding Section (h) to read as follows:
 1-6           (h)  Notwithstanding this article, a court shall not order
 1-7     The State of Texas nor any of its prosecuting attorneys, to
 1-8     participate in mediation, dispute resolution, arbitration, or other
 1-9     similar procedures, in relation to a criminal prosecution unless
1-10     upon written consent of The State of Texas.
1-11           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-12     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-13     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-14     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-15     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-16     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-17     passage, and it is so enacted.