1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a defendant's waiver of arraignment.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Chapter 26, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended
 1-5     by adding Article 26.011 to read as follows:
 1-6           Art. 26.011.  WAIVER OF ARRAIGNMENT.  An attorney
 1-7     representing a defendant may present a waiver of arraignment, and
 1-8     the clerk of the court may not require the presence of the
 1-9     defendant as a condition of accepting the waiver.
1-10           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-11     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-12     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-13     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-14     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 840 was passed by the House on April
         27, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 840 was passed by the Senate on May
         21, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor