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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the procedures governing certain bail bonds. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 17.02, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 17.02. DEFINITION OF "BAIL BOND". A "bail bond" is a |
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written undertaking entered into by the defendant and the |
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defendant's [his] sureties for the appearance of the principal |
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therein before some court or magistrate to answer a criminal |
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accusation; provided, however, that, on execution of the bail bond, |
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the defendant or another person on behalf of the defendant [upon
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execution of such bail bond] may deposit with the custodian of funds |
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of the court in which the prosecution is pending current money of |
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the United States in the amount of the bond in lieu of having |
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sureties signing the same. Any cash funds deposited under this |
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Article shall be receipted for by the officer receiving the same |
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and, on order of the court, shall be refunded to the person who made |
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the deposit [defendant] if and when the defendant complies with the |
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conditions of the defendant's [his] bond [, and upon order of the
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court]. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a bail bond that is executed on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A bail bond that was executed before the effective date |
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of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the bail bond was |
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executed, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |