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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature |
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to enact laws providing for a court to grant a commutation of |
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punishment to a person who has successfully served the required |
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number of years on parole. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 11(a), Article IV, Texas Constitution, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The Legislature shall by law establish a Board of |
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Pardons and Paroles and shall require it to keep record of its |
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actions and the reasons for its actions. The Legislature shall have |
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authority to enact parole laws, including laws authorizing a court |
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to grant a commutation of punishment to a person who has |
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successfully served the specified number of years on parole |
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required by law, and laws that require or permit courts to inform |
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juries about the effect of good conduct time and eligibility for |
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parole or mandatory supervision on the period of incarceration |
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served by a defendant convicted of a criminal offense. |
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SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 2021. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the |
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legislature to enact laws providing for a court to grant a |
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commutation of punishment to a person who has successfully served |
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the required number of years on parole." |