Bill Text: TX SB1125 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the use of video teleconferencing for testimony of a forensic analyst in a criminal proceeding.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-3)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-14 - Effective on 9/1/19 [SB1125 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SB1125-Enrolled.html
S.B. No. 1125 |
|
||
relating to the use of video teleconferencing for testimony of a | ||
forensic analyst in a criminal proceeding. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 38, Code of Criminal Procedure, is | ||
amended by adding Article 38.076 to read as follows: | ||
Art. 38.076. TESTIMONY OF FORENSIC ANALYST BY VIDEO | ||
TELECONFERENCE. (a) In this article, "forensic analyst" has the | ||
meaning assigned by Section 4-a, Article 38.01. | ||
(b) In a proceeding in the prosecution of a criminal offense | ||
in which a forensic analyst is required to testify as a witness, any | ||
testimony of the witness may be conducted by video teleconferencing | ||
in the manner described by Subsection (c) if: | ||
(1) the use of video teleconferencing is approved by | ||
the court and all parties; | ||
(2) the video teleconferencing is coordinated in | ||
advance to ensure proper scheduling and equipment compatibility and | ||
reliability; and | ||
(3) a method of electronically transmitting documents | ||
related to the proceeding is available at both the location at which | ||
the witness is testifying and in the court. | ||
(c) A video teleconferencing system used under this article | ||
must provide an encrypted, simultaneous, compressed full motion | ||
video and interactive communication of image and sound between the | ||
judge, the attorney representing the state, the attorney | ||
representing the defendant, and the witness. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1125 passed the Senate on | ||
April 29, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1125 passed the House on | ||
May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 5, two | ||
present not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
Approved: | ||
______________________________ | ||
Date | ||
______________________________ | ||
Governor |