Bill: HB 834, 87(R) - 2021

Committee

House Criminal Jurisprudence

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation	Economic Freedom	Property Rights	Personal Responsibility	Limited Government	Individual Liberty
Yes	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Positive	Neutral

Author(s)

Senfronia Thompson

Jeff Cason

Nicole Collier

Steve Toth

Co-Author(s)

Art Fierro

Jon E. Rosenthal

Bill Caption

Relating to requiring the corroboration of certain testimony in a criminal case involving a controlled substance.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

HB 834 would prohibit a defendant from being convicted of a drug offense on the sole testimony of any person acting undercover, rather than only non-police officers, unless that testimony is corroborated by other evidence.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action supports HB 834 because it would raise the evidentiary standards needed for a drug conviction to a more sensible level. Police officers do not always offer perfect eyewitness testimony. Criminal proceedings based off of a single police officer’s testimony invite government abuse and potential wrongful convictions. HB 834 would prevent juries from convicting an individual based only upon the testimony of a single witness, regardless of who they are.

Source URL (retrieved on 04/25/2024 11:04 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/87r/hb834?print_view=true