By:  Van de Putte                                     S.B. No. 1585
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to testimony of law enforcement in criminal court.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Part 1, Chapter 38, Code of Criminal Procedures,
 1-5     is amended by adding Article 38.141 to read as follows:
 1-6           Art. 31.141.  TESTIMONY OF UNDERCOVER LAW ENFORCEMENT
 1-7     OFFICER.  A conviction cannot be had upon the testimony of an
 1-8     undercover law enforcement officer unless corroborated by other
 1-9     evidence tending to connect the defendant with each element of the
1-10     offense committed; and the corroboration is not sufficient if it
1-11     merely shows the commission of the offense.
1-12           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-13           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-14     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-15     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-16     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-17     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.