Texas Senate Bill SB595

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of Senate Committee: 4/6/09
• Voted on by Senate: 4/16/09
• Out of House Committee: 5/7/09
• Voted on by House: 5/18/09
• Governor Action: 5/30/09
• Enrolled: 5/19/09
• Passed: 5/30/09

Caption

Relating to the sealing of and discovery procedures relating to evidence that constitutes child pornography in a criminal hearing or proceeding.

Impact

The bill has significant implications for the legal handling of sensitive evidence, particularly in cases involving child pornography. It emphasizes the importance of privacy and protection for victims while balancing the rights of defendants to access evidence necessary for their defense. By placing strict controls on how this type of evidence is handled in court, SB595 aims to safeguard the integrity of legal processes related to such serious charges.

Summary

SB595 seeks to amend the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure by adding specific procedures for handling evidence that constitutes child pornography in criminal hearings. The main objective of the bill is to ensure that such sensitive materials are not publicly disseminated during legal proceedings. The bill introduces provisions that require courts to place evidence related to child pornography under seal after a trial or hearing, thereby restricting access and mitigating the risk of public exposure.

Contention

While the bill received unanimous support in both the Senate and the House, discussions among legislative members highlighted potential concerns regarding the balance between protecting public safety and ensuring fair trial rights. Opponents may argue that such sealing measures could impede the transparency of legal processes, while supporters contend that the need for protecting vulnerable victims justifies these restrictions. The bill represents a crucial step in refining the judiciary's approach to particularly sensitive evidence.