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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the admissibility of certain evidence relating to |
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climate change or global warming in certain criminal cases. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 38, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 38.51 to read as follows: |
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Art. 38.51. ADMISSIBILITY OF CERTAIN EVIDENCE RELATING TO |
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CLIMATE CHANGE OR GLOBAL WARMING IN CERTAIN CASES. Evidence |
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relating to the defendant's theories, beliefs, or statements on |
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climate change or global warming, including causes of climate |
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change or global warming, is not admissible as proof of an element |
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of an offense involving: |
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(1) fraud or a fraudulent or deceptive practice; or |
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(2) any false or misleading statement, |
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representation, or information. |
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SECTION 2. Article 38.51, Code of Criminal Procedure, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to a criminal case in which the voir |
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dire examination begins on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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A criminal case in which the voir dire examination begins before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the |
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examination begins, 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, 2017. |