88R343 MAW-F
 
  By: Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 247
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the consideration of a subsequent writ of habeas corpus
  in certain felony cases.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 4, Article 11.07, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding
  Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (a)  If a subsequent application for writ of habeas corpus is
  filed after final disposition of an initial application challenging
  the same conviction, a court may not consider the merits of or grant
  relief based on the subsequent application unless [the application
  contains sufficient specific facts establishing that]:
               (1)  the application contains sufficient specific
  facts establishing that the current claims and issues have not been
  and could not have been presented previously in an original
  application or in a previously considered application filed under
  this article because the factual or legal basis for the claim was
  unavailable on the date the applicant filed the previous
  application; [or]
               (2)  the application contains sufficient specific
  facts establishing that by a preponderance of the evidence, but for
  a violation of the United States Constitution no rational juror
  could have found the applicant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; or
               (3)  the attorney representing the state having primary
  responsibility for the prosecution of similar cases in the
  jurisdiction consents in writing to the court's consideration of
  and ruling on the merits of the application. 
         (d)  In this section, "attorney representing the state"
  means a district attorney, a criminal district attorney, or a
  county attorney with criminal jurisdiction. The term does not
  include an assistant prosecuting attorney.
         SECTION 2.  Section 4(a), Article 11.07, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, as amended by this Act, applies only to an application
  for a writ of habeas corpus filed on or after the effective date of
  this Act. An application filed before the effective date of this
  Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was
  filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.