88R4785 MCF-F
 
  By: Herrero H.B. No. 3817
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a court requiring a defendant confined in a penal
  institution to appear by videoconference in a criminal case.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 1, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Article 1.027 to read as follows:
         Art. 1.027.  PRESENCE BY VIDEOCONFERENCE. Notwithstanding
  any other provision of this code, a court may require a defendant
  without the defendant's consent to appear, for any proceeding
  related to the prosecution of a criminal offense, by
  videoconference in the manner described by Article 27.18 if the
  defendant is confined in a penal institution at the time of the
  proceeding.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a criminal proceeding that commences on or after the effective
  date of this Act.  A criminal proceeding that commenced 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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.