| 1 | 1 | | 86R14975 MAW-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 4318 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the corroboration of certain testimony in the |
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| 8 | 8 | | prosecution of a trafficking of persons offense. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 20A.04, Penal Code, is amended by |
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| 11 | 11 | | amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (e) to read as |
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| 12 | 12 | | follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (c) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a [A] conviction |
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| 14 | 14 | | under this chapter may be had on the uncorroborated testimony of a |
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| 15 | 15 | | party to the offense. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (e) On request of the defendant or attorney representing the |
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| 17 | 17 | | state, the court shall hold a hearing regarding whether the |
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| 18 | 18 | | testimony of the party must be corroborated as required by Article |
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| 19 | 19 | | 38.14, Code of Criminal Procedure. If the court determines that the |
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| 20 | 20 | | party providing the testimony was a willing participant in the |
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| 21 | 21 | | offense, the court shall instruct the jury in accordance with |
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| 22 | 22 | | Article 38.14, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 2. Section 20A.04, Penal Code, as amended by this |
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| 24 | 24 | | Act, applies only to a trial that begins on or after the effective |
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| 25 | 25 | | date of this Act, regardless of whether the alleged offense was |
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| 26 | 26 | | committed before, on, or after that date. |
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| 27 | 27 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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