Section 38.37 - Evidence of Extraneous Offenses or ActsSec. 1.(a) Subsection (b) applies to a proceeding in the prosecution of a defendant for an offense, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit an offense, under the following provisions of the Penal Code: (1) if committed against a child under 17 years of age: (A) Chapter 21 (Sexual Offenses); (B) Chapter 22 (Assaultive Offenses); or (C) Section 25.02 (Prohibited Sexual Conduct); or (2) if committed against a person younger than 18 years of age: (A) Section 43.25 (Sexual Performance by a Child); (B) Section 20A.02(a)(5), (6), (7), or (8) (Trafficking of Persons); (C) Section 20A.03 (Continuous Trafficking of Persons), if based partly or wholly on conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 20A.02(a)(5), (6), (7), or (8); or (D) Section 43.05(a)(2) (Compelling Prostitution). (b) Notwithstanding Rules 404 and 405, Texas Rules of Evidence, evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts committed by the defendant against the child who is the victim of the alleged offense shall be admitted for its bearing on relevant matters, including: (1) the state of mind of the defendant and the child; and(2) the previous and subsequent relationship between the defendant and the child.Sec. 2.(a) Subsection (b) applies only to the trial of a defendant for: (1) an offense under any of the following provisions of the Penal Code: (A) Section 20A.02, if punishable as a felony of the first degree under Section 20A.02(b)(1) (Labor or Sex Trafficking of a Child or Disabled Individual); (B) Section 21.02 (Continuous Sexual Abuse of Young Child or Disabled Individual); (C) Section 21.11 (Indecency With a Child); (D) Section 22.011(a)(2) (Sexual Assault of a Child); (E) Sections 22.021(a)(1)(B) and (2) (Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child); (F) Section 33.021 (Online Solicitation of a Minor); (G) Section 43.25 (Sexual Performance by a Child); or (H) Section 43.26 (Possession or Promotion of Child Pornography), Penal Code; or (2) an attempt or conspiracy to commit an offense described by Subdivision (1). (b) Notwithstanding Rules 404 and 405, Texas Rules of Evidence, and subject to Section 2-a, evidence that the defendant has committed a separate offense described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) may be admitted in the trial of an alleged offense described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) for any bearing the evidence has on relevant matters, including the character of the defendant and acts performed in conformity with the character of the defendant. Sec. 2-a. Before evidence described by Section 2 may be introduced, the trial judge must: (1) determine that the evidence likely to be admitted at trial will be adequate to support a finding by the jury that the defendant committed the separate offense beyond a reasonable doubt; and(2) conduct a hearing out of the presence of the jury for that purpose.Sec. 3. The state shall give the defendant notice of the state's intent to introduce in the case in chief evidence described by Section 1 or 2 not later than the 30th day before the date of the defendant's trial.Sec. 4. This article does not limit the admissibility of evidence of extraneous crimes, wrongs, or acts under any other applicable law.Tex. Code Crim. Proc. § 38.37
Amended by Acts 2023, Texas Acts of the 88th Leg.- Regular Session, ch. 93,Sec. 3.02, eff. 9/1/2023.Amended by Acts 2023, Texas Acts of the 88th Leg.- Regular Session, ch. 93,Sec. 2.08, eff. 9/1/2023, app. only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act; an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.Amended by Acts 2021, Texas Acts of the 87th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 221,Sec. 2.12, eff. 9/1/2021.Amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 387,Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/2013.Amended by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, Sec. 2.08, eff. 9/1/2011.Amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 728, Sec. 4.004, eff. 9/1/2005.Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 318, Sec. 48(a), eff. 9/1/1995.