1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the uncorroborated testimony of victims of certain
 1-3     sexual offenses.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Article 38.07, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           Art. 38.07.  TESTIMONY IN CORROBORATION OF VICTIM OF SEXUAL
 1-8     OFFENSE.  (a)  A conviction under Chapter 21, Section 22.011, or
 1-9     Section 22.021, Penal Code, is supportable on the uncorroborated
1-10     testimony of the victim of the sexual offense if the victim
1-11     informed any person, other than the defendant, of the alleged
1-12     offense within one year after the date on which the offense is
1-13     alleged to have occurred.
1-14           (b)  The requirement that the victim inform another person of
1-15     an alleged offense does not apply if at the time of the alleged
1-16     offense the victim was a person:
1-17                 (1)  17 years of age or younger;
1-18                 (2)  65 years of age or older; or
1-19                 (3)  18 years of age or older who by reason of age or
1-20     physical or mental disease, defect, or injury was substantially
1-21     unable to satisfy the person's need for food, shelter, medical
1-22     care, or protection from harm [younger than 18 years of age at the
1-23     time of the alleged offense].
1-24           SECTION 2.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies
 2-1     only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
 2-2     Act.  For  purposes of this section, an offense is committed before
 2-3     the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs
 2-4     before that date.
 2-5           (b)  An offense committed before the effective date of this
 2-6     Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,
 2-7     and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 2-8           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1209 was passed by the House on April
         30, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1209 was passed by the Senate on May
         23, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor