86R5546 MAW-D
 
  By: Watson S.B. No. 736
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the admissibility of evidence of other similar offenses
  in the prosecution of certain sexual offenses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2(b), Article 38.37, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Notwithstanding Rules 404 and 405, Texas Rules of
  Evidence, and subject to Section 2-b [2-a], evidence that the
  defendant has committed a separate offense described by Subsection
  (a)(1) or (2) may be admitted in the trial of an alleged offense
  described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) for any bearing the evidence
  has on relevant matters, including the character of the defendant
  and acts performed in conformity with the character of the
  defendant.
         SECTION 2.  Article 38.37, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by amending Sections 2-a and 3 and adding Section 2-b to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 2-a.  (a) Subsection (b) applies only to the trial of a
  defendant for an offense, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit an
  offense, under Section 22.011 or 22.021, Penal Code. 
         (b)  Notwithstanding Rules 404 and 405, Texas Rules of
  Evidence, and subject to Section 2-b, evidence that the defendant
  has committed two or more separate offenses described by Subsection
  (a) may be admitted in the trial of an alleged offense described by
  that subsection for any bearing the evidence has on relevant
  matters, including the character of the defendant and acts
  performed in conformity with the character of the defendant.
         Sec. 2-b.  Before evidence described by Section 2 or 2-a may
  be introduced, the trial judge must:
               (1)  determine that the evidence likely to be admitted
  at trial will be adequate to support a finding by the jury that the
  defendant committed beyond a reasonable doubt a [the] separate
  offense as provided by the applicable section [beyond a reasonable
  doubt]; and
               (2)  conduct a hearing out of the presence of the jury
  for that purpose.
         Sec. 3.  The state shall give the defendant notice of the
  state's intent to introduce in the case in chief evidence described
  by Section 1, [or] 2, or 2-a not later than the 30th day before the
  date of the defendant's trial.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies to the
  admissibility of evidence in a criminal proceeding that commences
  on or after the effective date of this Act. The admissibility of
  evidence in a criminal proceeding that commences before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the
  proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.