H.B. No. 1386
AN ACT
relating to the prohibition of more than one counsel appearing in a
misdemeanor case.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 45.020(b), Code of Criminal Procedure,
is amended to read as follows:
(b) [Not more than one counsel shall conduct either the
prosecution or defense.] State's counsel may open and conclude the
argument in the case.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a criminal proceeding that commences on or after the effective
date of this Act. A criminal proceeding that commences before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
date the proceeding commences, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1386 was passed by the House on May 5,
2015, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1386 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor