By Ramsay H.B. No. 888
77R947 GWK-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the authority of a county judge to conduct certain
1-3 inquests.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Article 49.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 Art. 49.03. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The powers granted and
1-8 duties imposed on a justice of the peace under this subchapter
1-9 [article] are independent of the powers and duties of a law
1-10 enforcement agency investigating a death.
1-11 (b) If a justice of the peace is unavailable to conduct an
1-12 inquest under this article and if the justice of the peace
1-13 consents, the county judge of the county in which the justice of
1-14 the peace serves may conduct the inquest. In conducting the
1-15 inquest the county judge may exercise any power and perform any
1-16 duty otherwise granted to or imposed on the justice of the peace
1-17 under this subchapter.
1-18 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-19 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-20 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
1-21 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-22 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.