By Farrar                                             H.B. No. 1414
         77R5665 GWK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to prohibiting the introduction of argument in a criminal
 1-3     case concerning the effect of subsequent legislative action on
 1-4     punishment assessed by a jury.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 4(d), Article 37.07, Code of Criminal
 1-7     Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
 1-8           (d)  This section does not permit the introduction of
 1-9     evidence on the operation of parole and good conduct time laws.
1-10     Notwithstanding the jury charges under Subsections (a), (b), and
1-11     (c), the court may not permit argument in the case as to whether
1-12     subsequent actions of the legislature relating to parole and other
1-13     release issues might affect punishment recommended by the jury in
1-14     the case.
1-15           SECTION 2.  Section 2, Article 37.071, Code of Criminal
1-16     Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:
1-17           (j)  Notwithstanding the jury charge under Subsection
1-18     (e)(2)(B), the court may not permit argument in the case as to
1-19     whether subsequent actions of the legislature relating to parole
1-20     and other release issues might affect punishment recommended by the
1-21     jury in the case.
1-22           SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
1-23     to a criminal trial in which the sentencing phase begins on or
1-24     after the effective date of this Act.  A trial in which the
 2-1     sentencing phase begins before the effective date of this Act is
 2-2     covered by the law in effect when the sentencing phase begins, and
 2-3     the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 2-4           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.