By: Clardy, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 2185

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 13, 2015; May 14, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice; May 22, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 22, 2015, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

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. 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. A warrant executed outside of the county in which the warrant was issued must be signed by a judge of a district court with jurisdiction over the original offense.

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, 2015.

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