83R6133 AJZ-D
By: Ellis S.B. No. 1292
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to DNA testing of biological evidence in certain capital
cases.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 38.43, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
(i) Before a defendant is tried for a capital offense in
which the state is seeking the death penalty, the Department of
Public Safety shall perform DNA testing on all biological evidence
that was collected as part of an investigation of the offense. The
state shall pay for all DNA testing performed in accordance with
this subsection.
SECTION 2. Article 38.43(i), Code of Criminal Procedure, as
added by this Act, applies only to a trial that commences on or
after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the
alleged offense was committed before, on, or after that date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.