HJR166 - Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the denial of bail to a person accused of certain violent offenses or of continuous trafficking of persons.

      By: Johnson H.J.R. No. 166       A JOINT RESOLUTION   proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the denial of bail   to a person accused of certain violent offenses or of continuous   trafficking of persons.          BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Article I, Texas Constitution, is amended by   adding Section 11d to read as follows:           Sec. 11d.  (a)  In this section, "violent offense" means:                 (1)  murder;                 (2)     aggravated assault, if the victim of the assault   was a peace officer;                 (3)     aggravated robbery, if the accused used or   exhibited a firearm during the commission of the robbery; or                 (4)  aggravated sexual assault, if the accused:                       (A)     causes, attempts to cause, or threatens to   cause serious bodily injury or death to the victim or another person   in the course of the same criminal episode; or                       (B)     uses or exhibits a deadly weapon in the   course of the same criminal episode.           (b)     A person accused of committing a violent offense or of   committing continuous trafficking of persons may be denied bail   pending trial, by a district judge in this state, if the order   denying bail is issued not later than the seventh day after the   date of incarceration of the accused.           (c)     If the trial for an offense for which the accused is   denied bail under Subsection (b) does not begin on or before the   60th day after the date of the accused's incarceration, the judge   that issued the order denying bail shall set aside the order unless   the trial delay is due to a continuance obtained on the motion of   the accused.           (d)     A person denied bail under Subsection (b) may appeal the   order denying bail to the Court of Criminal Appeals.   The Court of   Criminal Appeals shall give preference in its docket to an appeal   filed under this subsection.          SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be   submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2025.     The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the   proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the denial   of bail to a person accused of certain violent offenses or of   continuous trafficking of persons."