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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to victim notification of certain scheduled court |
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proceedings. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 56A.452, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 56A.452. NOTIFICATION OF SCHEDULED COURT PROCEEDINGS. |
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(a) If requested by the victim, the attorney representing the |
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state, as soon [far] as reasonably practicable [practical], shall |
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give the victim notice of: |
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(1) any scheduled court proceedings and changes in |
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that schedule; and |
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(2) the filing of a request for continuance of a trial |
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setting. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the attorney |
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representing the state shall provide notice of a scheduled court |
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proceeding to the victim not later than the 60th day before the date |
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the proceeding is scheduled to occur, except that: |
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(1) subject to Subdivision (2), if the court schedules |
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the proceeding to occur on a date that will not allow for the timing |
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of the notice otherwise required by this subsection, the attorney |
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representing the state shall provide the notice not later than the |
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fifth day after the date the court schedules the proceeding; and |
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(2) if the court schedules the proceeding in an |
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emergency or expedited manner, the attorney representing the state |
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shall provide the notice as soon as practicable, but not later than |
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24 hours after the court schedules the proceeding. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to the scheduling of a criminal proceeding by a court on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. The scheduling of a criminal |
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proceeding by a court before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the court scheduled the |
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proceeding, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |