By: Birdwell S.B. No. 707     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the admissibility of certain recorded statements made   by child abuse victims.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 38, Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended by adding Article 38.0725 to read as follows:          Art. 38.0725.  ADMISSIBILITY OF CERTAIN RECORDED STATEMENTS   OF CHILD ABUSE VICTIMS. (a)  This article applies only to a   proceeding in the prosecution of an offense listed in Section 1,   Article 38.072, and committed against a child younger than 14 years   of age.          (b)  A recording of an oral statement that is not otherwise   admissible under another law or a rule of evidence of this state is   admissible into evidence in any proceeding to which this article   applies if:                (1)  the statement was made by the victim against whom   the charged offense was allegedly committed;                (2)  after an in camera review, the court finds that:                      (A)  the statement is relevant and is reliable   based on the time, content, and circumstances of the statement;                      (B)  the recording is both visual and aural and is   recorded on film or videotape or by other electronic means; and                      (C)  the individual interviewing the victim or, if   the victim's statement is not derived from an interview, the   individual conducting the recording is a neutral individual   experienced in child abuse cases; and                (3)  the victim testifies or is available to testify at   the proceeding in court or in any other manner provided by law.          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to a criminal proceeding that commences on or after the effective   date of this Act.  A criminal proceeding that commences before the   effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the   proceeding commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for   that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.