CHANGES MARK DRUG-BUST BILL

AUSTIN - A bill filed in response to a controversial 1999 Tulia drug
bust to require supporting evidence to the testimony of an undercover
officer is on its way to the governor in a dramatically different
form. However, supporters said they are generally glad that something
was done.

The measure by state Rep. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, prohibits a
defendant from being convicted on drug charges by the uncorroborated
testimony of an informant - undercover agents won't require back-up.

Hinojosa said that most of the time, only experienced officers serve
in an undercover capacity and he is confident a bill the governor has
signed to open criminal reports of police officers filed with the
state will take care of much of the problem in Tulia.

Three "Tulia Proposals" were filed in response to the questionable
drug arrests of 43 mostly black residents by a lone undercover agent.

Tom Coleman, the undercover agent in question, had no supporting
evidence of his testimony, which conflicted in some cases. Defense
investigation also turned up a letter from his former employers at
the sheriff's office in Cochran County that said Coleman shouldn't
work in law enforcement again. He was accused of theft and other
criminal conduct.

Hinojosa said he hopes the passage of this bill will restore some of
the faith in the criminal justice system that was lost in the Tulia
arrests.

"Tulia sounded the alarms. In order to protect our civil rights from
abuse, we need more than uncorroborated testimony before we lock
someone up," Hinojosa said.

Will Harrell, executive director of the Texas chapter of the American
Civil Liberties Union, which wrote the bill with the Texas chapter of
the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said
the measure is the first of its kind in the country - and a huge step
forward.

Alan Bean, co-chairman of the Friends of Justice in Tulia, said he
was disappointed peace officers were left out of the bill. However,
he is glad something has been done by the Texas Legislature.

"With only a few days left in the session they had to decide whether
they wanted nothing or what they could get. I think it was a good
decision," he said.

"I think it's a real victory."