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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the representation of an indigent person in certain |
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criminal proceedings in certain counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 26.04, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (i-1) to read as follows: |
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(i-1) This subsection applies only to a county with a |
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population of 2.5 million or more that is adjacent to a county with |
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a population of more than 2.1 million. Notwithstanding Subsection |
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(j)(2) or any other law, and if funds are appropriated by a county |
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for this purpose, an attorney may be appointed under this article to |
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represent an indigent person for the sole purpose of providing |
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counsel in relation to that person's appearance before a magistrate |
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as required by Article 14.06(a), 15.17(a), or 15.18(a). The |
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attorney may represent the person in subsequent proceedings of that |
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case, only if appointed for that purpose under the other provisions |
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of this article. |
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SECTION 2. Article 26.04(i-1), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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as added by this Act, applies only to a person who is arrested on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. A person arrested before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the person was arrested, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |