| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a written statement made by an accused as a result of |
|
|
custodial interrogation. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 1, Article 38.22, Code of Criminal |
|
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 1. In this article, a written statement of an accused |
|
|
means: |
|
|
(1) [a statement signed by the accused or] a statement |
|
|
made by the accused in his own handwriting; or |
|
|
(2) a statement made in a language the accused can read |
|
|
and understand that: |
|
|
(A) is signed by the accused; or |
|
|
(B) bears the mark of the accused, if the accused |
|
|
is unable to write and [, a statement bearing his mark, when] the |
|
|
mark is [has been] witnessed by a person other than a peace officer. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a statement made by an |
|
|
accused on or after the effective date of this Act. A statement made |
|
|
by an accused before the effective date of this Act is governed by |
|
|
the law in effect when the statement was made, and the former law is |
|
|
continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |