By: Crockett H.B. No. 196
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the release of a defendant when the state is not ready
  for trial.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1, Article 17.151, Code of Criminal
  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 1.  A defendant who is detained in jail pending trial of
  an accusation against the defendant [him] must be released either
  on personal bond or by reducing the amount of bail required, if the
  state is not ready for trial of the criminal action for which the
  defendant [he] is being detained within:
               (1)  60 [90] days from the commencement of the [his]
  detention if the defendant [he] is accused of a felony;
               (2)  10 [30] days from the commencement of the [his]
  detention if the defendant [he] is accused of a misdemeanor
  punishable by a sentence of imprisonment in jail for more than 180
  days;
               (3)  five [15] days from the commencement of the [his]
  detention if the defendant [he] is accused of a misdemeanor
  punishable by a sentence of imprisonment for 180 days or less; or
               (4)  three [five] days from the commencement of the
  [his] detention if the defendant [he] is accused of a misdemeanor
  punishable by a fine only.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made 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, 2021.