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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the reformation of the sentences of juveniles convicted |
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of capital felonies after being transferred to criminal court. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 44, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 44.252 to read as follows: |
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Art. 44.252. REFORMATION OF SENTENCE IN CAPITAL CASE |
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INVOLVING JUVENILE DEFENDANT. (a) The court of criminal appeals |
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shall reform a sentence of imprisonment in the Texas Department of |
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Criminal Justice for life without parole, including a sentence |
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already reformed from death to a sentence of imprisonment in the |
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Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life without parole, to a |
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sentence of imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal |
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Justice for life as provided by Section 12.31(a)(1), Penal Code, if |
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the court finds that the defendant is a person whose case was |
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transferred to a criminal court under Section 54.02, Family Code. |
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(b) This article applies to sentences for offenses |
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committed before September 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 3, Chapter 765 (S.B. No. |
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839), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, the |
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changes made by that Act to Section 12.31, Penal Code, and Section |
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508.145, Government Code, apply to offenses committed before, on, |
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or after September 1, 2009, the effective date of that Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |