Texas 2011 82nd Regular

Texas House Bill HB1113 Comm Sub / Bill

                    82R9606 JSC-D
 By: Raymond, Gallego, Christian H.B. No. 1113
 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1113:
 By:  Gallego C.S.H.B. No. 1113


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the sentencing hearing or deferred adjudication hearing
 and conditions of community supervision for defendants convicted of
 certain offenses involving controlled substances.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Chapter 42, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
 amended by adding Article 42.025 to read as follows:
 Art. 42.025.  SENTENCING HEARING AT SECONDARY SCHOOL. (a) A
 judge may order the sentencing hearing of a defendant convicted of
 an offense involving possession, manufacture, or delivery of a
 controlled substance under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, to
 be held at a secondary school if:
 (1)  the judge determines that the sentencing hearing
 would have educational value to students due to the nature of the
 offense and its consequences;
 (2)  the defendant agrees;
 (3)  the school administration agrees; and
 (4)  appropriate measures are taken to ensure:
 (A)  the safety of the students; and
 (B)  a fair hearing for the defendant that
 complies with all applicable laws and rules.
 (b)  A judge may, at a secondary school, receive a plea of
 guilty or nolo contendere from a defendant charged with an offense
 described by Subsection (a) and place the defendant on deferred
 adjudication under Section 5, Article 42.12, if:
 (1)  the judge makes the determination that the
 proceeding would have educational value, as provided by Subsection
 (a)(1);
 (2)  the defendant and the school agree to the location
 of the proceeding, as provided by Subsections (a)(2) and (3); and
 (3)  appropriate measures are taken in regard to the
 safety of students and the rights of the defendant, as described by
 Subsection (a)(4).
 SECTION 2.  Section 16, Article 42.12, Code of Criminal
 Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
 (g)  If the judge orders a defendant placed on community
 supervision for an offense involving possession, manufacture, or
 delivery of a controlled substance under Chapter 481, Health and
 Safety Code, to perform community service, the judge may authorize
 the defendant to perform not more than 30 hours of community
 outreach under this subsection in lieu of hours of community
 service. Community outreach under this subsection consists of
 working in conjunction with a secondary school at the direction of
 the judge to educate students on the dangers and legal consequences
 of possessing, manufacturing, or delivering controlled substances.
 A secondary school is not required to allow a defendant to perform
 community outreach at that school. The judge may not authorize the
 defendant to perform hours of community outreach under this
 subsection in lieu of hours of community service if:
 (1)  the defendant is physically or mentally incapable
 of participating in community outreach; or
 (2)  the defendant is subject to registration as a sex
 offender under Chapter 62.
 SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies to a
 defendant charged with an offense involving possession,
 manufacture, or delivery of a controlled substance under Chapter
 481, Health and Safety Code, who is sentenced or enters a plea of
 guilty or nolo contendere under Section 5, Article 42.12, Code of
 Criminal Procedure, on or after the effective date of this Act.
 SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.