HBA-JLV H.B. 3442 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3442 By: Gallego Criminal Jurisprudence 4/5/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law provides that a conviction cannot be had based upon the testimony of an accomplice unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the offense committed. Texas is only one of many states that requires corroboration of accomplice testimony in criminal offenses. There are concerns that the accomplice witness rule has resulted in many cases being reversed and defendants acquitted because the corroboration was found insufficient. House Bill 3442 repeals current law prohibiting conviction of a defendant based upon the testimony of an accomplice. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 3442 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to repeal the provision prohibiting a conviction upon the testimony of an accomplice unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the offense committed and providing that the corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows the commission of the offense. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.