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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of certain judges in criminal cases to |
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modify the amount or conditions of bail set by a justice of the |
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peace or municipal court judge. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 17, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 17.0915 to read as follows: |
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Art. 17.0915. REVIEW OF BOND SET BY CERTAIN |
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MAGISTRATES. (a) In a county in which a criminal law magistrate |
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serves the judges of the criminal district courts and criminal |
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county courts, the criminal law magistrate may review and adjust |
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the bond in a criminal case on the grounds described by Section 3, |
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Article 17.09, but only if the amount and conditions of the original |
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bond were set by a municipal court judge or justice of the peace. |
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(b) The authority of a criminal law magistrate under this |
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article applies to the bond required of a defendant regardless of |
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whether the defendant remains confined or was released on the bond |
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originally set in the case, except that if the defendant was |
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released on bond, the magistrate shall require the defendant to |
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give a new bond in the manner described by Section 3, Article 17.09. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |