Bill Text: TX HB608 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 608 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the eligibility of certain defendants for release on personal bond.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-22 - Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence [HB608 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB608-Introduced.html

	85R4070 MEW-D

	By: Dutton	H.B. No. 608



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	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-1) to
	read as follows:
	(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (b-1) [~~of this~~
	~~article~~], a magistrate may, in the magistrate's discretion, release
	the defendant on [~~his~~] personal bond without sureties or other
	security.
	(b-1) 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, 2017.