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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the filing of a complaint for certain misdemeanor |
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offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 27.14(d), Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) If written notice of an offense for which maximum |
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possible punishment is by fine only or of a violation relating to |
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the manner, time, and place of parking has been prepared, |
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delivered, and filed with the court and a legible duplicate copy has |
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been given to the defendant, the written notice serves as a |
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complaint to which the defendant may plead "guilty," "not guilty," |
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or "nolo contendere." If the defendant pleads "not guilty" to the |
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offense or fails to appear based on the written notice, a peace |
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officer or an attorney representing the state shall file a |
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complaint [shall be filed] that conforms to the requirements of |
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Chapter 45 [of this code], and that complaint serves as an original |
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complaint. A defendant may waive the filing of a sworn complaint |
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and elect that the prosecution proceed on the written notice of the |
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charged offense if the defendant agrees in writing with the |
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prosecution, signs the agreement, and files it with the court. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |