78R8955 GWK-D

By:  Hodge                                                        H.B. No. 2598



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the rights of certain victims of violent crimes and 
relatives or guardians of the victims.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal 
Procedure, is amended by adding Article 56.021 to read as follows:
	Art. 56.021.  DISCRIMINATION ON BASIS OF OFFENSE PROHIBITED.  
Each right guaranteed to a victim, close relative of a deceased 
victim, or guardian of a victim by the Texas Constitution or other 
law must be available to all victims, relatives, and guardians on an 
equal basis.  Notwithstanding any law relating to capital 
punishment, a victim, relative, or guardian may not be 
discriminated against and the rights of the victim, relative, or 
guardian may not be denied, diminished, or enlarged on the basis of 
the victim's, relative's, or guardian's support for, neutrality on, 
or opposition to the death penalty, either as a general proposition 
or as punishment in a particular criminal prosecution.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.