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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to DNA testing of biological evidence in certain capital |
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cases. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 38.43, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows: |
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(i) Before a defendant is tried for a capital offense in |
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which the state is seeking the death penalty, the Department of |
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Public Safety shall perform DNA testing on all biological evidence |
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that was collected as part of an investigation of the offense. The |
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state shall pay for all DNA testing performed in accordance with |
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this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. Article 38.43(i), Code of Criminal Procedure, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to a trial that commences on or |
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after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the |
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alleged offense was committed before, on, or after that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |