By Brown                                              S.B. No. 1262
         77R4683 ATP-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authority of an officer to return stolen property
 1-3     to its owner.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Article 47.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           Art. 47.01.  SUBJECT TO ORDER OF COURT. An officer who comes
 1-8     into custody of property alleged to have been stolen must hold it
 1-9     subject to the order of the proper court if the ownership of the
1-10     property is contested or disputed[, except that if the officer
1-11     recovers, within 14 days from the date it was reported stolen,
1-12     property which is subject to Chapter 501, Transportation Code, the
1-13     officer need not hold the property subject to the order of the
1-14     proper court but may release the property to the owner, as shown on
1-15     the certificate of title].
1-16           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.