Bill Text: TX HB1955 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the eligibility of certain defendants for release on personal bond.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-25 - Left pending in committee [HB1955 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB1955-Introduced.html
| 86R10785 MEW-D | ||
| By: Dutton | H.B. No. 1955 | |
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| relating to the eligibility of certain defendants for release on | ||
| personal bond. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Article 17.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is | ||
| amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b-2) to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), [ |
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| (b-2), a magistrate may, in the magistrate's discretion, release | ||
| the defendant on personal bond without sureties or other security. | ||
| (b-2) Notwithstanding any other law, a magistrate shall | ||
| release on personal bond a defendant who is charged with a | ||
| misdemeanor unless the magistrate makes an affirmative finding of | ||
| fact and files a statement of that affirmative finding with the | ||
| papers in the case that extenuating circumstances justify not | ||
| releasing the defendant on personal bond. | ||
| SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only | ||
| to a personal bond that is executed on or after the effective date | ||
| of this Act. A personal bond executed before the effective date of | ||
| this Act is governed by the law in effect when the personal bond was | ||
| executed, and the former law is continued in effect for that | ||
| purpose. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
