Art. 23.03. CAPIAS OR SUMMONS IN FELONY.  (a)  A capias shall be issued by the district clerk upon each indictment for felony presented, after bail has been set or denied by the judge of the court.  Upon the request of the attorney representing the State, a summons shall be issued by the district clerk.  The capias or summons shall be delivered by the clerk or mailed to the sheriff of the county where the defendant resides or is to be found.  A capias or summons need not issue for a defendant in custody or under bond.
(b) Upon the request of the attorney representing the State a summons instead of a capias shall issue.  If a defendant fails to appear in response to the summons a capias shall issue.
(c) Summons.  The summons shall be in the same form as the capias except that it shall summon the defendant to appear before the proper court at a stated time and place.  The summons shall be served upon a defendant by delivering a copy to him personally, or by leaving it at his dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein or by mailing it to the defendant's last known address.
(d) A summons issued to any person must clearly and prominently state in English and in Spanish the following:
"It is an offense for a person to intentionally influence or coerce a witness to testify falsely or to elude legal process.  It is also a felony offense to harm or threaten to harm a witness or prospective witness in retaliation for or on account of the service of the person as a witness or to prevent or delay the person's service as a witness to a crime."
Acts 1965, 59th Leg., p. 317, ch. 722, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1966.  Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 1034, ch. 463, Sec. 3, eff. June 7, 1979.
Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 67, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.