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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of videography in certain court proceedings. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 21, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 21.014 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.014. USE OF VIDEOGRAPHY IN CERTAIN COURT |
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PROCEEDINGS. (a) In this section, "videography" means software or |
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hardware designed to record audiovisual information for wider |
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circulation, including by livestreaming. |
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(b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, |
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videography may not be used: |
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(1) during voir dire examination of a prospective |
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juror; |
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(2) in a court proceeding involving a child under the |
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age of 18 who was or is alleged to have been a victim of: |
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(A) an offense under Section 22.011, 22.04, |
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22.041, or 42.07, Penal Code; |
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(B) an offense involving family violence as |
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defined by Section 71.004, Family Code; or |
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(C) other conduct in which evidence that would be |
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embarrassing to the child may be offered; or |
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(3) except as provided by Subsection (d), in a court |
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proceeding involving a person who is 18 years of age or older and |
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who was or is alleged to have been a victim of: |
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(A) an offense under Section 22.011, 22.04, |
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22.041, or 42.07, Penal Code; |
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(B) an offense involving family violence as |
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defined by Section 71.004, Family Code; or |
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(C) other conduct in which evidence that would be |
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embarrassing to the person may be offered. |
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(c) Videography may record a juror only on the juror's |
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consent and may be used only after the juror has been discharged |
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from jury duty. |
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(d) A victim or alleged victim described by Subsection |
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(b)(3) may voluntarily authorize the use of videography in a court |
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proceeding described by that subdivision. The court shall notify |
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the victim or alleged victim of the person's right to authorize the |
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use of videography. |
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(e) Subsections (b)(2) and (3) may not be interpreted as |
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restricting the admissibility of a recorded forensic interview or |
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other prerecording as evidence in a court proceeding. |
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(f) This section does not prohibit the use of videography by |
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court staff: |
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(1) in a circumstance in which the court is not |
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physically open and the use of videography is necessary to comply |
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with the provision of Section 13, Article I, Texas Constitution, |
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requiring all courts to be open; or |
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(2) if the information recorded by videography is for |
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court operations or security purposes and is confidential except to |
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court staff. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by Section 21.014, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a court |
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proceeding commenced on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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court proceeding commenced before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the proceeding was |
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commenced, 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. |