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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to reports to the Office of Court Administration of the |
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Texas Judicial System on certain cases filed in justice and |
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municipal courts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 72, |
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Government Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. COURT PERFORMANCE AND OTHER REPORTS [STANDARDS] |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 72, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 72.0831 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 72.0831. JUSTICE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS. (a) Each |
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justice and municipal court shall annually report to the office for |
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each criminal case filed with the court during the reporting year: |
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(1) the offense charged; |
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(2) the final disposition of the case; and |
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(3) the defendant's race or ethnicity, as reported in |
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the citation, affidavit establishing probable cause, or offense |
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report filed with the case. |
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(b) Each justice court shall annually report to the office |
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for each residential eviction suit filed with the court during the |
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reporting year: |
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(1) the final disposition of the case; and |
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(2) the defendant's race or ethnicity, as reported to |
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the court by the defendant or, if the defendant does not report the |
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defendant's race or ethnicity, the fact that the defendant prefers |
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not to report the defendant's race or ethnicity. |
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(c) The office shall adopt rules prescribing the form and |
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manner of submission of the reports required by this section and the |
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dates on which those reports are due each year. |
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(d) A report made under this section is confidential and not |
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subject to disclosure under Chapter 552. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Office of Court Administration of the Texas |
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Judicial System shall adopt rules implementing Section 72.0831, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |