By Hinojosa, Keel                                      H.B. No. 840
         77R3172 GWK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 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.