85R559 JRR-D
By: White H.B. No. 420
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the admissibility of certain evidence relating to
climate change or global warming in certain criminal cases.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 38, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Article 38.51 to read as follows:
Art. 38.51. ADMISSIBILITY OF CERTAIN EVIDENCE RELATING TO
CLIMATE CHANGE OR GLOBAL WARMING IN CERTAIN CASES. Evidence
relating to the defendant's theories, beliefs, or statements on
climate change or global warming, including causes of climate
change or global warming, is not admissible as proof of an element
of an offense involving:
(1) fraud or a fraudulent or deceptive practice; or
(2) any false or misleading statement,
representation, or information.
SECTION 2. Article 38.51, Code of Criminal Procedure, as
added by this Act, applies only to a criminal case in which the voir
dire examination begins on or after the effective date of this Act.
A criminal case in which the voir dire examination begins before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the
examination begins, and the former law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.