Source: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CR/htm/CR.43.htm
Timestamp: 2018-03-25 03:34:34
Document Index: 530647709

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43', 'Art. 43']

﻿CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CHAPTER 43. EXECUTION OF JUDGMENT
Art. 43.01. DISCHARGING JUDGMENT FOR FINE.  (a)  When the sentence against an individual defendant is for fine and costs, he shall be discharged from the same:
(3) when he has remained in custody for the time required by law to satisfy the amount thereof;  or
(2) when the execution against the corporation or association has been fully satisfied;  or
Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722.  Amended by Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 974, ch. 399, Sec. 2(A), eff. Jan. 1, 1974.
Art. 43.015.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
(1)  "Capias" means a writ that is:
(A)  issued by a court having jurisdiction of a case after judgment and sentence; and
(B)  directed "To any peace officer of the State of Texas" and commanding the officer to arrest a person convicted of an offense and bring the arrested person before that court immediately or on a day or at a term stated in the writ.
(2)  "Capias pro fine" means a writ that is:
(A)  issued by a court having jurisdiction of a case after judgment and sentence for unpaid fines and costs; and
(B)  directed "To any peace officer of the State of Texas" and commanding the officer to arrest a person convicted of an offense and bring the arrested person before that court immediately.
Art. 43.02. PAYABLE IN MONEY.  All recognizances, bail bonds, and undertakings of any kind, whereby a party becomes bound to pay money to the State, and all fines and forfeitures of a pecuniary character, shall be collected in the lawful money of the United States only.
Art. 43.021.  CAPIAS OR CAPIAS PRO FINE IN ELECTRONIC FORM.  A capias or capias pro fine may be issued in electronic form.
Art. 43.03. PAYMENT OF FINE.  (a)  If a defendant is sentenced to pay a fine or costs or both and the defendant defaults in payment, the court after a hearing under Subsection (d) of this article may order the defendant confined in jail until discharged as provided by law, may order the defendant to discharge the fines and costs in any other manner provided by Article 43.09 of this code, or may waive payment of the fines and costs as provided by Article 43.091.  A certified copy of the judgment, sentence, and order is sufficient to authorize confinement under this subsection.
(b) A term of confinement for default in payment of fine or costs or both may not exceed the maximum term of confinement authorized for the offense for which the defendant was sentenced to pay the fine or costs or both.  If a court orders a term of confinement for default in payment of fines or costs under this article at a time during which a defendant is serving another term of confinement for default or is serving a term of confinement for conviction of an offense, the term of confinement for default runs concurrently with the other term of confinement, unless the court orders the terms to run consecutively under Article 42.08 of this code.
(d)  A court may not order a defendant confined under Subsection (a) of this article unless the court at a hearing makes a written determination that:
(1)  the defendant is not indigent and has failed to make a good faith effort to discharge the fines and costs;  or
(A)  has failed to make a good faith effort to discharge the fines and costs under Article 43.09(f);  and
(B)  could have discharged the fines and costs under Article 43.09 without experiencing any undue hardship.
(e)  This article does not apply to a court governed by Chapter 45.
(f)  For purposes of a hearing described by Subsection (d), a defendant may be brought before the court in person or by means of an electronic broadcast system through which an image of the defendant is presented to the court.  For purposes of this subsection, "electronic broadcast system" means a two-way electronic communication of image and sound between the defendant and the court and includes secure Internet videoconferencing.
Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722.  Amended by Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 2990, ch. 987, Sec. 2, eff. June 15, 1971;  Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 974, ch. 399, Sec. 2(A), eff. Jan. 1, 1974.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 5.04, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;  Subsec. (a) amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1111, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Art. 43.04.  IF DEFENDANT IS ABSENT.  When a judgment and sentence have been rendered against a defendant in the defendant's absence, the court may order a capias issued for the defendant's arrest.  The sheriff shall execute the capias by bringing the defendant before the court or by placing the defendant in jail until the defendant can be brought before the court.
Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722.  Amended by Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 2990, ch. 987, Sec. 3, eff. June 15, 1971.
Art. 43.05.  CAPIAS PRO FINE SHALL RECITE.  (a)  A capias pro fine issued for the arrest and commitment of a defendant convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, or found in contempt, the penalty for which includes a fine, shall recite the judgment and sentence and command a peace officer to immediately bring the defendant before the court.
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 977 (H.B. 351), Sec. 6
(a-1)  Before a court may issue a capias pro fine for the defendant's failure to satisfy the judgment according to its terms:
(1)  the court must provide by regular mail to the defendant notice that includes:
(A)  a statement that the defendant has failed to satisfy the judgment according to its terms; and
(B)  a date and time when the court will hold a hearing on the defendant's failure to satisfy the judgment according to its terms; and
(A)  the defendant fails to appear at the hearing; or
(B)  based on evidence presented at the hearing, the court determines that the capias pro fine should be issued.
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1127 (S.B. 1913), Sec. 5
(a-1)  A court may not issue a capias pro fine for the defendant's failure to satisfy the judgment according to its terms unless the court holds a hearing on the defendant's ability to satisfy the judgment and:
(1)  the defendant fails to appear at the hearing; or
(2)  based on evidence presented at the hearing, the court determines that the capias pro fine should be issued.
(a-2)  The court shall recall a capias pro fine if, before the capias pro fine is executed:
(2)  the amount owed is resolved in any manner authorized by this code.
(b)  A capias pro fine authorizes a peace officer to place the defendant in jail until the business day following the date of the defendant's arrest if the defendant cannot be brought before the court immediately.
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1171 (S.B. 873), Sec. 1
(c)  If the court that issued the capias pro fine is unavailable, the arresting officer may, in lieu of placing the defendant in jail, take the defendant to:
(1)  another court in the same county with jurisdiction over Class A and Class B misdemeanors or a county criminal law magistrate court in the same county, if the court that issued the capias pro fine was a county court or a statutory county court with Class A and Class B misdemeanor jurisdiction; or
(2)  another court in the same county with jurisdiction over felony cases or a county criminal law magistrate court in the same county, if the court that issued the capias pro fine was a district court with felony jurisdiction.
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1182 (S.B. 1139), Sec. 9.01
(c)  If the court that issued the capias pro fine is unavailable, the arresting officer may take the defendant to one of the following locations in lieu of placing the defendant in jail:
(1)  if the court that issued the capias pro fine was a county court or a statutory county court with Class A and Class B misdemeanor jurisdiction, to another court in the same county with concurrent jurisdiction over Class A and Class B misdemeanors or to a county criminal law magistrate in the same county; or
(2)  if the court that issued the capias pro fine was a district court with felony jurisdiction, to another court in the same county with concurrent jurisdiction over felony cases or to a county criminal law magistrate in the same county.
Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722.  Amended by Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 2990, ch. 987, Sec. 4, eff. June 15, 1971.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1171 (S.B. 873), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1182 (S.B. 1139), Sec. 9.01, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 977 (H.B. 351), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1127 (S.B. 1913), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2017.
Art. 43.06.  CAPIAS OR CAPIAS PRO FINE MAY ISSUE TO ANY COUNTY.  A capias or capias pro fine may be issued to any county in the State, and shall be executed and returned as in other cases, but no bail shall be taken in such cases.
Art. 43.07.  EXECUTION FOR FINE AND COSTS.  In each case of pecuniary fine, an execution may issue for the fine and costs, though a capias pro fine was issued for the defendant; and a capias pro fine may issue for the defendant though an execution was issued against the defendant's property.  The execution shall be collected and returned as in civil actions.  When the execution has been collected, the defendant shall be at once discharged;  and whenever the fine and costs have been legally discharged in any way, the execution shall be returned satisfied.
Art. 43.08. FURTHER ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENT.  When a defendant has been committed to jail in default of the fine and costs adjudged against him, the further enforcement of such judgment and sentence shall be in accordance with the provisions of this Code.
Art. 43.09. FINE DISCHARGED.  (a)  When a defendant is convicted of a misdemeanor and the defendant's punishment is assessed at a pecuniary fine or is confined in a jail after conviction of a felony for which a fine is imposed, if the defendant is unable to pay the fine and costs adjudged against the defendant, the defendant may for such time as will satisfy the judgment be put to work in the county jail industries program, in the workhouse, or on the county farm, or public improvements and maintenance projects of the county or a political subdivision located in whole or in part in the county, as provided in Article 43.10; or if there is no such county jail industries program, workhouse, farm, or improvements and maintenance projects, the defendant shall be confined in jail for a sufficient length of time to discharge the full amount of fine and costs adjudged against the defendant; rating such confinement at $100 for each day and rating such labor at $100 for each day; provided, however, that the defendant may pay the pecuniary fine assessed against the defendant at any time while the defendant is serving at work in the county jail industries program, in the workhouse, or on the county farm, or on the public improvements and maintenance projects of the county or a political subdivision located in whole or in part in the county, or while the defendant is serving the defendant's jail sentence, and in such instances the defendant is entitled to the credit earned under this subsection during the time that the defendant has served and the defendant shall only be required to pay the balance of the pecuniary fine assessed against the defendant.  A defendant who performs labor under this article during a day in which the defendant is confined is entitled to both the credit for confinement and the credit for labor provided by this article.
(b) In its discretion, the court may order that for each day's confinement served by a defendant under this article, the defendant receive credit toward payment of the pecuniary fine and credit toward payment of costs adjudged against the defendant.  Additionally, the court may order that the defendant receive credit under this article for each day's confinement served by the defendant as punishment for the offense.
(e)  A court in a county that operates an electronic monitoring program or contracts with a private vendor to operate an electronic monitoring program under Section 351.904, Local Government Code, or that is served by a community supervision and corrections department that operates an electronic monitoring program approved by the community justice assistance division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, may require a defendant who is unable to pay a fine or costs to discharge all or part of the fine or costs by participating in the program.  A defendant who participates in an electronic monitoring program under this subsection discharges fines and costs in the same manner as if the defendant were confined in county jail.
(g)  In the court's order requiring a defendant to perform community service under Subsection (f), the court must specify:
(1)  the number of hours of community service the defendant is required to perform;
(2)  whether the community supervision and corrections department or a court-related services office will perform the administrative duties required by the placement of the defendant in the community service program; and
(3)  the date by which the defendant must submit to the court documentation verifying the defendant's completion of the community service.
Text of subsection as amended by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 977 (H.B. 351), Sec. 7
(h)  The court may order the defendant to perform community service under Subsection (f):
(B)  a nonprofit organization or another organization that provides services to the general public that enhance social welfare and the general well-being of the community, as determined by the court; or
Text of subsection as amended by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1127 (S.B. 1913), Sec. 6
(1)  by attending a work and job skills training program, preparatory class for the high school equivalency examination administered under Section 7.111, Education Code, or similar activity; or
(h-1)  An entity that accepts a defendant under Subsection (f) to perform community service must agree to supervise, either on-site or remotely, the defendant in the performance of the defendant's community service and report on the defendant's community service to the district probation department or court-related services office.
(j)  A court may not order a defendant to perform more than 16 hours per week of community service under Subsection (f) unless the court determines that requiring the defendant to perform additional hours does not impose an undue hardship on the defendant or the defendant's dependents.
(l)  A sheriff, employee of a sheriff's department, county commissioner, county employee, county judge, an employee of a community corrections and supervision department, restitution center, or officer or employee of a political subdivision other than a county or an entity that accepts a defendant under this article to perform community service is not liable for damages arising from an act or failure to act in connection with manual labor performed by an inmate or community service performed by a defendant under this article if the act or failure to act:
(1)  was performed pursuant to confinement or other court order; and
(m)  Repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1263, Sec. 22, eff. September 1, 2007.
(n)  This article does not apply to a court governed by Chapter 45.
Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 360, ch. 143, Sec. 1, eff. May 14, 1981;  Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 347, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987;  Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 785, Sec. 4.13, eff. Sept. 1, 1989;  Subsecs. (a), (d) amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 753, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989;  Subsec. (e) added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1040, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 28, 1989;  Subsecs. (f) to (j) added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1040, Sec. 4, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 16, Sec. 4.06, eff. Aug. 26, 1991.  Subsec. (l) added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 26, 1991.  Subsec. (a) amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 578, Sec. 2, eff. June 11, 1993;  Subsec. (l) amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 578, Sec. 2, eff. June 11, 1993;  Subsec. (m) added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 414, Sec. 1, eff. June 6, 1993.  Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 5.04, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;  Subsec. (k) amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1545, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 977 (H.B. 351), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1127 (S.B. 1913), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2017.
Art. 43.091.  WAIVER OF PAYMENT OF FINES AND COSTS FOR CERTAIN DEFENDANTS AND FOR CHILDREN.  A court may waive payment of all or part of a fine or costs imposed on a defendant if the court determines that:
(1)  the defendant is indigent or does not have sufficient resources or income to pay all or part of the fine or costs or was, at the time the offense was committed, a child as defined by Article 45.058(h); and
(2)  each alternative method of discharging the fine or cost under Article 43.09 or 42.15 would impose an undue hardship on the defendant.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 977 (H.B. 351), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1127 (S.B. 1913), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2017.
Art. 43.10.  MANUAL LABOR.  Where the punishment assessed in a conviction for a misdemeanor is confinement in jail for more than one day or is only a pecuniary fine and the defendant is unable to pay the fine and costs adjudged against the defendant, or where the defendant is sentenced to jail for a felony or is confined in jail after conviction of a felony, the defendant shall be required to work in the county jail industries program or shall be required to do manual labor in accordance with the following rules and regulations:
1.  Each commissioners court may provide for the erection of a workhouse and the establishment of a county farm in connection therewith for the purpose of utilizing the labor of defendants under this article;
2.  Such farms and workhouses shall be under the control and management of the sheriff, and the sheriff may adopt such rules and regulations not inconsistent with the rules and regulations of the Commission on Jail Standards and with the laws as the sheriff deems necessary;
3.  Such overseers and guards may be employed by the sheriff under the authority of the commissioners court as may be necessary to prevent escapes and to enforce such labor, and they shall be paid out of the county treasury such compensation as the commissioners court may prescribe;
4.  They shall be put to labor upon public works and maintenance projects, including public works and maintenance projects for a political subdivision located in whole or in part in the county.  They may be put to labor upon maintenance projects for a cemetery that the commissioners court uses public funds, county employees, or county equipment to maintain under Section 713.028, Health and Safety Code.  They may also be put to labor providing maintenance and related services to a nonprofit organization that qualifies for a tax exemption under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization described by Section 501(c)(3) of that code, and is organized as a nonprofit corporation under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act (Article 1396-1.01 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), provided that, at the sheriff's request, the commissioners court determines that the nonprofit organization provides a public service to the county or to a political subdivision located in whole or in part in the county;
5.  A defendant who from age, disease, or other physical or mental disability is unable to do manual labor shall not be required to work.  The defendant's inability to do manual labor may be determined by a physician appointed for that purpose by the county judge or the commissioners court, who shall be paid for such service such compensation as said court may allow; and
6.  For each day of manual labor, in addition to any other credits allowed by law, a defendant is entitled to have one day deducted from each sentence the defendant is serving.
Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 2647, ch. 708, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1981;  Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 753, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1989;  Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 785, Sec. 4.14, eff. Sept. 1, 1989;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 26, 1991;  Subsec. (a) amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 10, Sec. 14.09, eff. Oct. 1, 1991.  Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 578, Sec. 3, eff. June 11, 1993;  Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 5.04, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 3.19, eff. Sept. 1, 1995;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 321, Sec. 3.015, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Art. 43.101. VOLUNTARY WORK.  (a)  A defendant who is confined in county jail before trial, after conviction of a misdemeanor, or after conviction of a felony or revocation of community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision and awaiting transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice may volunteer to participate in any work program operated by the sheriff that uses the labor of convicted defendants.
(b)  The sheriff may accept a defendant as a volunteer under Subsection (a) if the defendant is not awaiting trial for an offense involving violence or is not awaiting transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after conviction of a felony involving violence, and if the sheriff determines that the inmate has not engaged previously in violent conduct and does not pose a security risk to the general public if allowed to participate in the work program.
(d)  For each day of volunteer work, in addition to any other credits allowed by law, the court or sheriff may deduct one day from each sentence imposed on the defendant in relation to the offense or violation of the terms of release for which the defendant was confined in county jail.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 753, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.  Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 86, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1993;  Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 5.04, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 3.20, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Art. 43.11. AUTHORITY FOR CONFINEMENT.  When, by the judgment and sentence of the court, a defendant is to be confined in jail, a certified copy of such judgment and sentence shall be sufficient authority for the sheriff to place such defendant in jail.
Art. 43.13. DISCHARGE OF DEFENDANT.  (a)  A defendant who has remained in jail the length of time required by the judgment and sentence shall be discharged.  The sheriff shall return the copy of the judgment and sentence, or the capias under which the defendant was imprisoned, to the proper court, stating how it was executed.
Art. 43.131. IMMUNITIES.  (a)  An individual listed in Subsection (c) of this article and the governmental entity that the individual serves as an officer or employee are not liable for damages arising from an act or failure to act by the individual or governmental entity in connection with a community service program or work program established under this chapter if the act or failure to act:
(4) an officer or employee of a state agency;  or
Art. 43.14.  EXECUTION OF CONVICT:  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.  (a)  Whenever the sentence of death is pronounced against a convict, the sentence shall be executed at any time after the hour of 6 p.m. on the day set for the execution, by intravenous injection of a substance or substances in a lethal quantity sufficient to cause death and until such convict is dead, such execution procedure to be determined and supervised by the director of the correctional institutions division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
(b)  The name, address, and other identifying information of the following is confidential and excepted from disclosure under Section 552.021, Government Code:
(1)  any person who participates in an execution procedure described by Subsection (a), including a person who uses, supplies, or administers a substance during the execution; and
(2)  any person or entity that manufactures, transports, tests, procures, compounds, prescribes, dispenses, or provides a substance or supplies used in an execution.
Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722.  Amended by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 287, ch. 138, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 29, 1977.
Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 812, ch. 291, Sec. 120, eff. Sept. 1, 1981;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 652, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 319, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 209 (S.B. 1697), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015.
Art. 43.141. SCHEDULING OF EXECUTION DATE;  WITHDRAWAL;  MODIFICATION.  (a)  If an initial application under Article 11.071 is timely filed, the convicting court may not set an execution date before:
(1) the court of criminal appeals denies relief;  or
(b-1)  Not later than the second business day after the date on which the convicting court enters an order setting the execution date, a copy of the order must be sent by first-class mail, e-mail, or fax to:
(1)  the attorney who represented the condemned person in the most recently concluded stage of a state or federal postconviction proceeding; and
(2)  the office of capital writs established under Subchapter B, Chapter 78, Government Code.
(b-2)  The exclusive remedy for a failure to comply with Subsection (b-1) is the resetting of the execution date under this article.
(c)  An execution date may not be earlier than the 91st day after the date the convicting court enters the order setting the execution date.
(1) a subsequent or untimely application for a writ of habeas corpus filed under Article 11.071;  or
(e) If the convicting court withdraws the order of the court setting the execution date, the court shall recall the warrant of execution.  If the court modifies the order of the court setting the execution date, the court shall recall the previous warrant of execution, and the clerk of the court shall issue a new warrant.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 319, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Subsec. (d) amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 13, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1071), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Art. 43.15.  WARRANT OF EXECUTION.  (a)  Whenever any person is sentenced to death, the clerk of the court in which the sentence is pronounced shall, not later than the 10th day after the court enters its order setting the date for execution, issue a warrant under the seal of the court for the execution of the sentence of death, which shall recite the fact of conviction, setting forth specifically the offense, the judgment of the court, and the time fixed for the execution, and which shall be directed to the director of the correctional institutions division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at Huntsville, Texas, commanding the director to proceed, at the time and place named in the order of execution, to carry the same into execution, as provided in Article 43.14, and shall deliver such warrant to the sheriff of the county in which such judgment of conviction was had, to be delivered by the sheriff to the director, together with the condemned person if the person has not previously been so delivered.
(b)  At the time the warrant is issued under Subsection (a), the clerk of the court shall send a copy of the warrant to:
(1)  the attorney who represented the condemned person in the most recently concluded stage of a state or federal postconviction proceeding;
(2)  the attorney representing the state; and
(3)  the office of capital writs established under Subchapter B, Chapter 78, Government Code.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 951 (S.B. 1071), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015.
Art. 43.16. TAKEN TO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.  Immediately upon the receipt of such warrant, the sheriff shall transport such condemned person to the Director of the Department of Corrections, if he has not already been so delivered, and shall deliver him and the warrant aforesaid into the hands of the Director of the Department of Corrections and shall take from the Director of the Department of Corrections his receipt for such person and such warrant, which receipt the sheriff shall return to the office of the clerk of the court where the judgment of death was rendered.  For his services, the sheriff shall be entitled to the same compensation as is now allowed by law to sheriffs for removing or conveying prisoners under the provisions of Section 4 of Article 1029 or 1030 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1925, as amended.
Art. 43.17. VISITORS.  Upon the receipt of such condemned person by the Director of the Department of Corrections, the condemned person shall be confined therein until the time for his or her execution arrives, and while so confined, all persons outside of said prison shall be denied access to him or her, except his or her physician, lawyer, and clergyperson, who shall be admitted to see him or her when necessary for his or her health or for the transaction of business, and the relatives and friends of the condemned person, who shall be admitted to see and converse with him or her at all proper times, under such reasonable rules and regulations as may be made by the Board of Directors of the Department of Corrections.
Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 1181;  ch. 572, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 27, 1979.
Art. 43.18.  EXECUTIONER.  The director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall designate an executioner to carry out the death penalty provided by law.
Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722.  Amended by Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 911, ch. 341, Sec. 6, eff. June 19, 1975;  Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 288, ch. 138, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 29, 1977.
Art. 43.19.  PLACE OF EXECUTION.  The execution shall take place at a location designated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in a room arranged for that purpose.
Art. 43.20. PRESENT AT EXECUTION.  The following persons may be present at the execution:  the executioner, and such persons as may be necessary to assist him in conducting the execution;  the Board of Directors of the Department of Corrections, two physicians, including the prison physician, the spiritual advisor of the condemned, the chaplains of the Department of Corrections, the county judge and sheriff of the county in which the Department of Corrections is situated, and any of the relatives or friends of the condemned person that he may request, not exceeding five in number, shall be admitted.  No convict shall be permitted by the prison authorities to witness the execution.
Art. 43.21. ESCAPE AFTER SENTENCE.  If the condemned escape after sentence and before his delivery to the Director of the Department of Corrections, and be not rearrested until after the time fixed for execution, any person may arrest and commit him to the jail of the county in which he was sentenced;  and thereupon the court by whom the condemned was sentenced;  either in term-time or vacation, on notice of such arrest being given by the sheriff, shall again appoint a time for the execution, not less than thirty days from such appointment, which appointment shall be by the clerk of said court immediately certified to the Director of the Department of Corrections and such clerk shall place such certificate in the hands of the sheriff, who shall deliver the same, together with the warrant aforesaid and the condemned person to the Director of the Department of Corrections, who shall receipt to the sheriff for the same and proceed at the appointed time to carry the sentence of death into execution as hereinabove provided.
Art. 43.22. ESCAPE FROM DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.  If the condemned person escapes after his delivery to the Director of the Department of Corrections, and is not retaken before the time appointed for his execution, any person may arrest and commit him to the Director of the Department of Corrections whereupon the Director of the Department of Corrections shall certify the fact of his escape and recapture to the court in which sentence was passed;  and the court, either in term-time or vacation, shall again appoint a time for the execution which shall not be less than thirty days from the date of such appointment;  and thereupon the clerk of such court shall certify such appointment to the Director of the Department of Corrections, who shall proceed at the time so appointed to execute the condemned, as hereinabove provided.  The sheriff or other officer or other person performing any service under this and the preceding Article shall receive the same compensation as is provided for similar services under the provisions of Articles 1029 or 1030 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1925, as amended.  If for any reason execution is delayed beyond the date set, then the court which originally sentenced the defendant may set a later date for execution.
Art. 43.23. RETURN OF DIRECTOR.  When the execution of sentence is suspended or respited to another date, same shall be noted on the warrant and on the arrival of such date, the Director of the Department of Corrections shall proceed with such execution;  and in case of death of any condemned person before the time for his execution arrives, or if he should be pardoned or his sentence commuted by the Governor, no execution shall be had;  but in such cases, as well as when the sentence is executed, the Director of the Department of Corrections shall return the warrant and certificate with a statement of any such act and his proceedings endorsed thereon, together with a statement showing what disposition was made of the dead body of the convict, to the clerk of the court in which the sentence was passed, who shall record the warrant and return in the minutes of the court.
Art. 43.24. TREATMENT OF CONDEMNED.  No torture, or ill treatment, or unnecessary pain, shall be inflicted upon a prisoner to be executed under the sentence of the law.
Art. 43.25. BODY OF CONVICT.  The body of a convict who has been legally executed shall be embalmed immediately and so directed by the Director of the Department of Corrections.  If the body is not demanded or requested by a relative or bona fide friend within forty-eight hours after execution then it shall be delivered to the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas, if requested by the Board.  If the body is requested by a relative, bona fide friend, or the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas, such recipient shall pay a fee of not to exceed twenty-five dollars to the mortician for his services in embalming the body for which the mortician shall issue to the recipient a written receipt.  When such receipt is delivered to the Director of the Department of Corrections, the body of the deceased shall be delivered to the party named in the receipt or his authorized agent.  If the body is not delivered to a relative, bona fide friend, or the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas, the Director of the Department of Corrections shall cause the body to be decently buried, and the fee for embalming shall be paid by the county in which the indictment which resulted in conviction was found.
Art. 43.26. PREVENTING RESCUE.  The sheriff may, when he supposes there will be a necessity, order such number of citizens of his county, or request any military or militia company, to aid in preventing the rescue of a prisoner.