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AN ACT
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relating to disclosure of certain information about expert |
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witnesses in a criminal case. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 39.14(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) On [motion of] a party's request made not later than the |
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30th day before the date that jury selection in the trial is |
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scheduled to begin or, in a trial without a jury, the presentation |
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of evidence is scheduled to begin, the party receiving the request |
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shall [party and on notice to the other parties, the court in which
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an action is pending may order one or more of the other parties to] |
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disclose to the requesting party [making the motion] the name and |
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address of each person the disclosing [other] party may use at trial |
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to present evidence under Rules 702, 703, and 705, Texas Rules of |
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Evidence. Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the |
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disclosure must be made in writing in hard copy form or by |
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electronic means [The court shall specify in the order the time and
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manner in which the other party must make the disclosure to the
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moving party, but in specifying the time in which the other party
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shall make disclosure the court shall require the other party to
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make the disclosure] not later than the 20th day before the date |
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that jury selection in the trial is scheduled to begin or, in a |
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trial without a jury, the presentation of evidence is scheduled to |
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begin. On motion of a party and on notice to the other parties, the |
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court may order an earlier time at which one or more of the other |
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parties must make the disclosure to the requesting party [begins]. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to the |
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prosecution of an offense committed on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. The prosecution of an offense committed 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 offense was committed, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense |
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is committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of |
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the offense occurs before the effective date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 510 was passed by the House on May 6, |
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2015, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 510 was passed by the Senate on May |
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22, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |