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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to jury instructions regarding the insanity defense in a |
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criminal case. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 46C.154, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 46C.154. INFORMING JURY REGARDING CONSEQUENCES OF |
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ACQUITTAL. The court may instruct the jury on [, the attorney
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representing the state, or the attorney for the defendant may not
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inform a juror or a prospective juror of] the consequences to the |
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defendant if a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity is |
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returned. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes |
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of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date |
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of this Act if any element of the offense was committed before that |
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date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |