87R946 KJE-F
 
  By: Thompson of Harris, Toth, Collier, Cason, H.B. No. 834
      Sherman, Sr., et al.
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring the corroboration of certain testimony in a
  criminal case involving a controlled substance.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 38.141, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 38.141.  CORROBORATION REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN TESTIMONY
  RELATING TO COVERT LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY [OF UNDERCOVER PEACE
  OFFICER OR SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR]. (a) A defendant may not be
  convicted of an offense under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code,
  on the testimony of a person who is [not a licensed peace officer or
  a special investigator but who is] acting covertly on behalf of a
  law enforcement agency or under the color of law enforcement unless
  the testimony is corroborated by other evidence tending to connect
  the defendant with the offense committed.
         (b)  Corroboration is not sufficient for the purposes of this
  article if the corroboration only shows the commission of the
  offense.
         [(c)  In this article, "peace officer" means a person listed
  in Article 2.12, and "special investigator" means a person listed
  in Article 2.122.]
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to any
  case in which a judgment is entered on or after the effective date
  of this Act. A case in which a judgment is entered before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
  date the judgment was entered, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.