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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the powers and duties of a municipal court judge with |
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respect to certain inquests. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 49, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subchapter C to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES PERFORMED BY MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES |
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Art. 49.51. POWERS AND DUTIES. A judge of a municipal court |
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may conduct an inquest under this chapter into the death of a person |
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who dies in the municipality served by the judge to the same extent |
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a justice of the peace serving the precinct in which the body or |
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body part was found may conduct an inquest under Subchapter A into |
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the death of that person. The municipal court judge may exercise |
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any power granted to, and shall perform any duty imposed on, the |
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justice of the peace by Subchapter A or another law relating to |
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inquests conducted by a justice of the peace. |
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SECTION 2. Article 49.07, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) A person who is required by this subchapter to give |
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notice to a justice of the peace or county judge may instead give |
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notice to a judge of a municipal court in the municipality in which |
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the body or body part was found. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2009. |