SRC-LBB S.B. 1948 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1948
78R15664 GWK-DBy: Whitmire
Criminal Justice
5/9/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Four years after the Tulia drug sting, 13 Texans remain in prison.
Although the only witness against these individuals has been indicted for
perjury.  The parties have jointly filed documents with the Court of
Criminal Appeals, declaring that it would be a "travesty of justice to
permit the convictions to stand."  As proposed, S.B. 1948 provides for the
release on bond of certain applicants for a writ of habeas corpus seeking
relief from the judgment in a criminal case, other than an applicant
seeking relief from a judgment imposing a death penalty. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 11, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding
Article 11.65, as follows: 

Art. 11.65.  BOND FOR CERTAIN APPLICANTS.  (a)  Provides that this article
applies to an applicant for a writ of habeas corpus seeking relief from
the judgment in a criminal case, other than an applicant seeking relief
from a judgment imposing a penalty of death. 

(b)  Authorizes the convicting court, on making proposed findings of fact
and conclusions of law jointly stipulated to by the applicant and the
state, or on approving proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law
made by an attorney or magistrate appointed by the court to perform that
duty and jointly stipulated to by the applicant and the state, to order
the release of the applicant on bond, subject to conditions imposed by the
convicting court, until the applicant is denied relief, remanded to
custody, or ordered released. 

(c)  Provides that this article expires on the first anniversary of the
date on which it became law. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that Article 11.65, Code of Criminal Procedure, as
added by this Act, applies to: 

(1)  any applicant who on or after the effective date of this Act applies
for a writ of habeas corpus; and 

(2)  any applicant whose application for a writ of habeas corpus is
pending on the effective date of this Act, regardless of when the
application was filed. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.