The attorney general or a court may seek or issue immunity from prosecution for a person served with an investigative demand or discovery request who refuses to comply because of self-incrimination, and a compliant person generally cannot be prosecuted for the covered matters.
Sec. 15.13. IMMUNITY FROM CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. (a) Application by Attorney General. If a person upon whom an investigative demand or request for discovery has been properly served pursuant to Section 15.10, 15.11, or 15.12 of this Act refuses or is likely to refuse to comply with the demand or request on the basis of his or her privilege against self-incrimination, the attorney general may apply to a district court in the county in which the person is located for an order granting the person immunity from prosecution and compelling the person's compliance with the demand or request. (b) Order Granting Immunity and Compelling Testimony and Production. Upon receipt of an application filed under Subsection (a) of this section, the court may issue an order granting the person immunity from prosecution and requiring the person to comply with the demand or request notwithstanding his or her claim of privilege. The order shall explain the scope of protection afforded by it. (c) Effectiveness of Order. An order may be issued under Subsection (b) of this section prior to the assertion of the privilege against self-incrimination but shall not be effective until the person to whom it is directed asserts the privilege and is informed of the order. (d) Compliance with Order. A person who has been informed of an order issued by a court under this section compelling his or her testimony or production of material may not refuse to comply with the order on the basis of his or her privilege against self-incrimination. A person who complies with the order may not be criminally prosecuted for or on account of any act, transaction, matter, or thing about which he or she is ordered to testify or produce unless the alleged offense is perjury or failure to comply with the order. Failure to comply with the order may be punished by the court as contempt of the order. Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3019, ch. 519, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 29, 1983.