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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to conducting by electronic means a hearing to determine a |
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defendant's ability to discharge certain fines and court costs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 43.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) For purposes of a hearing described by Subsection (d), a |
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defendant may be brought before the court in person or by means of |
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an electronic broadcast system through which an image of the |
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defendant is presented to the court. For purposes of this |
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subsection, "electronic broadcast system" means a two-way |
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electronic communication of image and sound between the defendant |
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and the court and includes secure Internet videoconferencing. |
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SECTION 2. Article 45.046, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) For purposes of a hearing described by Subsection (a), a |
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defendant may be brought before the court in person or by means of |
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an electronic broadcast system through which an image of the |
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defendant is presented to the court. For purposes of this |
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subsection, "electronic broadcast system" means a two-way |
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electronic communication of image and sound between the defendant |
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and the court and includes secure Internet videoconferencing. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a hearing held under Article 43.03 or 45.046, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, on or after the effective date of this Act. A hearing |
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held under Article 43.03 or 45.046, Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in |
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effect at the time of the hearing, and the former law is continued |
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in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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