By: Hinojosa of Hidalgo S.B. No. 614

(In the Senate - Filed December 13, 2024; February 3, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice; May 5, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 5, 2025, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 614 By: Flores

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the Texas Forensic Science Commission to review and refer certain cases to the office of capital and forensic writs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 4(h), Article 38.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(h) The commission may review and refer to the office of capital and forensic writs in accordance with Section 78.054(b), Government Code, cases that are:

(1) the subject of an investigation under Subsection (a)(3) or (a-1); or

(2) dismissed by the commission with an express referral to a previously published report that:

(A) covers the same subject matter; and

(B) is issued under Subsection (b), (b-1), or (b-2) [to the office of capital and forensic writs in accordance with Section 78.054(b), Government Code].

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

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