By: Burton S.B. No. 390
(In the Senate - Filed January 28, 2015; February 2, 2015,
read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice;
March 16, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7,
Nays 0; March 16, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to docket preference for trials in which the alleged
victim is younger than 14 years of age.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 32A.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 32A.01. TRIAL PRIORITIES. (a) Insofar as is
practicable, the trial of a criminal action shall be given
preference over trials of civil cases, and the trial of a criminal
action against a defendant who is detained in jail pending trial of
the action shall be given preference over trials of other criminal
actions not described by Subsection (b).
(b) Unless extraordinary circumstances require otherwise,
the trial of a criminal action in which the alleged victim is
younger than 14 years of age shall be given preference over other
matters before the court, whether civil or criminal.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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