H.B. No. 13 




AN ACT

relating to making arrest warrants and certain affidavits made in 
support of the issuance of arrest warrants available for public 
inspection.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Article 15.26, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 
amended to read as follows:
	Art. 15.26.  AUTHORITY TO ARREST MUST BE MADE KNOWN.  In 
executing a warrant of arrest, it shall always be made known to the 
accused under what authority the arrest is made.  The warrant shall 
be executed by the arrest of the defendant.  The officer need not 
have the warrant in his possession at the time of the arrest, 
provided the warrant was issued under the provisions of this Code, 
but upon request he shall show the warrant to the defendant as soon 
as possible.  If the officer does not have the warrant in his 
possession at the time of arrest he shall then inform the defendant 
of the offense charged and of the fact that a warrant has been 
issued.  The arrest warrant, and any affidavit presented to the 
magistrate in support of the issuance of the warrant, is public 
information, and beginning immediately when the warrant is executed 
the magistrate's clerk shall make a copy of the warrant and the 
affidavit available for public inspection in the clerk's office 
during normal business hours.  A person may request the clerk to 
provide copies of the warrant and affidavit on payment of the cost 
of providing the copies.
	SECTION 2.   This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 13 was passed by the House on April 1, 
2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	I certify that H.B. No. 13 was passed by the Senate on May 28, 
2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Secretary of the Senate    



APPROVED:  _____________________                                            
 
                   Date                                                      




 
          _____________________                                          
 
                 Governor