By: Hall, Flores, Hinojosa S.B. No. 386
(In the Senate - Filed January 12, 2023; February 15, 2023,
read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice;
March 30, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7,
Nays 0; March 30, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the prosecution of a capital murder committed against a
peace officer or fireman.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Richard Houston II
Act.
SECTION 2. Section 19.03, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), the actor is presumed
to have known the person murdered was a peace officer or fireman if
the person:
(1) was wearing a distinctive uniform or badge
indicating the person's employment as a peace officer or fireman;
or
(2) made an identification as a peace officer or
fireman to the actor.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
* * * * *