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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a defendant's right to appear by counsel in certain |
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misdemeanor cases. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 33.04, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 33.04. MAY APPEAR BY COUNSEL. In [other] misdemeanor |
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cases other than cases described by Article 33.03, the defendant |
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may[, by consent of the State's attorney,] appear by counsel[,] |
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and, if the defendant's counsel stipulates to the identity of the |
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defendant, the trial may proceed without the defendant's [his] |
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personal presence. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a proceeding that is commenced on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A proceeding that is commenced before the effective date |
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of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the |
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proceeding is commenced, and the former law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |