By: Huffman S.B. No. 970

(In the Senate - Filed February 28, 2013; March 12, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice; April 4, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 4, 2013, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the execution of a search warrant for taking a DNA specimen.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 18, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 18.065 to read as follows:

Art. 18.065. WARRANT FOR DNA SPECIMEN MAY BE EXECUTED IN ANY COUNTY. Notwithstanding any other law, a warrant issued under Article 18.02(10) to collect a DNA specimen from a person for the purpose of connecting that person to an offense may be executed in any county in this state, regardless of whether the issuing court's jurisdiction extends outside the county in which that court is located.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a search warrant issued on or after the effective date of this Act. A search warrant issued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the warrant was issued, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

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