TITLE: Relating to evidence or testimony given by certain witnesses in a criminal case based on the trafficking of persons.

SUMMARY: Relating to evidence or testimony given by certain witnesses in a criminal case based on the trafficking of persons.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to evidence or testimony given by certain witnesses in a criminal case based on the trafficking of persons. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 20A, Penal Code, is amended by adding Section 20A.04 to read as follows: Sec. 20A.04. ACCOMPLICE WITNESS; TESTIMONY AND IMMUNITY. (a) A party to an offense under this chapter may be required to provide evidence or testify about the offense. (b) A party to an offense under this chapter may not be prosecuted for any offense about which the party is required to provide evidence or testify, and the evidence and testimony may not be used against the party in any adjudicatory proceeding except a prosecution for aggravated perjury. For purposes of this subsection, "adjudicatory proceeding" means a proceeding before a court or any other agency of government in which the legal rights, powers, duties, or privileges of specified parties are determined. (c) A conviction under this chapter may be had on the uncorroborated testimony of a party to the offense. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a criminal proceeding that commences on or after the effective date of this Act. A criminal proceeding that commences before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.