H.B. No. 1603
AN ACT
relating to the procedures governing the prosecution of misdemeanor
offenses in the jurisdiction of the justice and municipal courts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 45.031, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
Art. 45.031. COUNSEL FOR STATE NOT PRESENT. (a) If the
state is not represented by counsel when the case is called for
trial, the justice or judge may:
(1) postpone the trial to a date certain;
(2) appoint any competent attorney as an attorney pro
tem [as provided by this code] to represent the state,
notwithstanding Article 2.07; or
(3) proceed to trial.
(b) An attorney appointed under Subsection (a) is qualified
to perform the duties of the office of the attorney representing the
state and may be paid a reasonable fee for performing those duties.
SECTION 2. Article 45.031, Code of Criminal Procedure, as
amended by this Act, applies only to a trial that begins 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, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1603 was passed by the House on April
26, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 2, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1603 was passed by the Senate on May
23, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor