TITLE: Relating to the prosecution of and punishment for the offense of tampering with a witness.

SUMMARY: Relating to the prosecution of and punishment for the offense of tampering with a witness.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the prosecution of and punishment for the offense of tampering with a witness. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 36.05, Penal Code, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows: (d) An offense under this section is a [state jail] felony of the third degree, except that if the official proceeding is part of the prosecution of a criminal case, an offense under this section is the same category of offense as the most serious offense charged in that criminal case.(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (d), if the most serious offense charged is a capital felony, an offense under this section is a felony of the first degree. (f) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.