By: Powell  S.B. No. 2136
         (In the Senate - Filed March 7, 2019; March 21, 2019, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice;
  May 1, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 7,
  Nays 0; May 1, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the admissibility of evidence in the prosecution of an
  offense committed against a member of the defendant's family or
  household or person in a dating relationship with the defendant.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Article 38.371, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
         Art. 38.371.  EVIDENCE IN PROSECUTION [PROSECUTIONS] OF
  OFFENSE COMMITTED AGAINST MEMBER OF DEFENDANT'S FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD
  OR PERSON IN DATING RELATIONSHIP WITH DEFENDANT [CERTAIN OFFENSES
  INVOLVING FAMILY VIOLENCE].
         SECTION 2.  Article 38.371(a), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  This article applies to a proceeding in the prosecution
  of a defendant for an offense, or for an attempt or conspiracy to
  commit an offense, for which the alleged victim is [that is
  committed under:
               [(1) Section 22.01, 22.02, or 22.04, Penal Code,
  against] a person whose relationship to or association with the
  defendant is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005,
  Family Code[; or
               [(2) Section 25.07 or 25.072, Penal Code, if the offense
  is based on a violation of an order or a condition of bond in a case
  involving family violence].
         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 on the
  date the proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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