Sec. 420.074. DISCLOSURE OF PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDING. (a) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, not later than the 30th day before the date of the trial, a defendant in a criminal proceeding may make a motion for disclosure of a communication or record that is privileged under this chapter. The motion must include a supporting affidavit showing reasonable grounds to believe the privileged communication or record contains exculpatory evidence.
(b) The defendant shall serve the motion on the attorney representing the state and the person who holds the privilege with regard to the communication or record at issue.
(c) The court shall order the privileged communication or record to be produced for the court under seal and shall examine the communication or record in camera if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that:
(1) there is a good-faith, specific, and reasonable basis for believing that the privileged communication or record is relevant, material, and exculpatory upon the issue of guilt for the offense charged; and
(2) the privileged communication or record would not be duplicative of other evidence or information available or already obtained by the defendant.
(d) The court shall disclose to the defendant and to the state only the evidence that the court finds to be exculpatory on the issue of guilt for the offense charged.
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 775, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997, as Sec. 44.074, Health and Safety Code.
Renumbered from Health and Safety Code, Section 44.074 by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., Ch. 921 (H.B. 3167), Sec. 17.001, eff. September 9, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1105 (S.B. 1636), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 513 (S.B. 295), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2021.