88R10835 JCG-F
 
  By: Cain H.B. No. 3247
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to creating the criminal offense of prosecutorial
  misconduct.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 39, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Section 39.08 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.08.  PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT. (a) In this
  section, "prosecuting attorney" means an attorney who represents
  the state in a criminal action.
         (b)  A person commits an offense if:
               (1)  the person is a prosecuting attorney or working on
  behalf of a prosecuting attorney in a criminal action;
               (2)  the person intentionally destroys, withholds from
  the defendant, or otherwise fails to disclose to the defendant
  information that the attorney or person is required to disclose
  under Article 39.14(h), Code of Criminal Procedure;
               (3)  the defendant is actually innocent of the offense
  with which the defendant is charged; and
               (4)  the conduct described by Subdivision (2) was a
  substantial contributing factor to the wrongful conviction of the
  defendant.
         (c)  A person commits an offense if the person:
               (1)  is a prosecuting attorney; and
               (2)  intentionally obstructs the exoneration of a
  defendant for an offense of which the person knows the defendant was
  actually innocent and wrongfully convicted.
         (d)  An offense under this section is a felony of the second
  degree.
         (e)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section
  also constitutes an offense under another section of this code, the
  actor may be prosecuted under either section or under both
  sections.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.