BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3334

By: Hughes

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires questions presented by the grand jury or the attorney representing the state to a person accused or suspected, and the testimony of that person, to be recorded by a stenographer or an electronic device. However, questions concerning witness testimony often arise after the testimony is provided, which may cause problems because the law is silent on the recording of such testimony. H.B. 3334 seeks to address this issue by applying that recording requirement to questions to and testimony of witnesses before the grand jury.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3334 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to make the requirement that questions to and testimony by an accused or suspected person before a grand jury be recorded apply to questions to and testimony by any witness before the grand jury, including such an accused or suspected person.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.