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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the right of an immediate family member of certain |
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deceased peace officers to make an oral statement regarding the |
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terms of a plea bargain agreement. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 26, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 26.131 to read as follows: |
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Art. 26.131. PLEA BARGAIN SUPPORT STATEMENT. (a) An |
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immediate family member of a peace officer as defined by Section |
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1.07, Penal Code, who dies as the result of alleged criminal conduct |
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for which a defendant has been indicted or for which an information |
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is returned is entitled to make an oral statement to the court |
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regarding any plea bargain agreement in the case. |
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(b) In a case in which a peace officer as defined by Section |
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1.07, Penal Code, died as a result of the alleged criminal conduct |
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of the defendant, the attorney representing the state shall notify |
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the immediate family members of the deceased peace officer of the |
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existence and terms of any plea bargain agreement and of each |
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immediate family member's right to make an oral statement to the |
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court regarding whether the family member supports the terms of the |
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plea bargain agreement. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a plea of guilty or nolo contendere entered on or after the |
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effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense with |
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reference to which the plea is entered is committed before, on, or |
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after that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |