H.B. No. 214

AN ACT

relating to a recording of certain proceedings of the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals and the publication of the recordings.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 22, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 22.303 to read as follows:

Sec. 22.303. RECORDING OF CERTAIN COURT PROCEEDINGS. If appropriated funds or donations are available in the amount necessary to cover the cost, the supreme court and the court of criminal appeals shall make a video recording or other electronic visual and audio recording of each oral argument and public meeting of the court and post the recording on the court's Internet website.

SECTION 2. The Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals are required to implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals may, but are not required to, implement this Act using other appropriations available for the purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 214 was passed by the House on May 4, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 1, 2 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 214 on May 25, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 9, 2 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 214 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

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Governor