SRC-MWN S.B. 17 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 17
77R1946 JMC-DBy: Nelson
Criminal Justice
2/8/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is no existing requirement that advance notice of a
request for reduced bail be given to a prosecutor. As a result, while the
defense has an opportunity to provide the judge with information and
rationale to support its request for a reduction, the prosecution may not
have a similar opportunity. As proposed, S.B. 17 requires the prosecuting
attorneys be given advance notice of a request for bail reduction for a
defendant accused of a "3G" violent crime offense. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 17, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding Article
17.331, as follows: 

Art.17.331. NOTICE OF BAIL REDUCTION REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN DEFENDANTS.
Requires the magistrate to provide reasonable notice of the proposed bail
reduction to the attorney representing the state before  reducing the
amount of bail set under this code for a defendant charged with or
convicted of an offense listed in Section 3g(a) (1), Article 42.12. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.