89R6230 JCG-F
By: West S.B. No. 1083
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the representation of an indigent person in certain
criminal proceedings in certain counties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 26.04, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Subsection (i-1) to read as follows:
(i-1) This subsection applies only to a county with a
population of 2.5 million or more that is adjacent to a county with
a population of more than 2.1 million. Notwithstanding Subsection
(j)(2) or any other law, and if funds are appropriated by a county
for this purpose, an attorney may be appointed under this article to
represent an indigent person for the sole purpose of providing
counsel in relation to that person's appearance before a magistrate
as required by Article 14.06(a), 15.17(a), or 15.18(a). The
attorney may represent the person in subsequent proceedings of that
case, only if appointed for that purpose under the other provisions
of this article.
SECTION 2. Article 26.04(i-1), Code of Criminal Procedure,
as added by this Act, applies only to a person who is arrested on or
after the effective date of this Act. A person arrested before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
date the person was arrested, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.