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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to evidence or testimony given by certain witnesses in a |
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criminal case based on the trafficking of persons. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 20A, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 20A.04 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 20A.04. ACCOMPLICE WITNESS; TESTIMONY AND IMMUNITY. |
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(a) A party to an offense under this chapter may be required to |
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provide evidence or testify about the offense. |
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(b) A party to an offense under this chapter may not be |
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prosecuted for any offense about which the party is required to |
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provide evidence or testify, and the evidence and testimony may not |
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be used against the party in any adjudicatory proceeding except a |
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prosecution for aggravated perjury. For purposes of this |
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subsection, "adjudicatory proceeding" means a proceeding before a |
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court or any other agency of government in which the legal rights, |
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powers, duties, or privileges of specified parties are determined. |
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(c) A conviction under this chapter may be had on the |
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uncorroborated testimony of a party to the offense. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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criminal proceeding that commences on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. A criminal proceeding that commences before the |
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effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the |
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proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |