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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the composition of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 508.031, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (a-1) and (c) and amending Subsection (b) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a-1) The board must include at least: |
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(1) two members who have bachelor's degrees in |
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behavioral mental health, each of whom is: |
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(A) a licensed clinical social worker, as defined |
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by Section 505.002, Occupations Code; |
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(B) a licensed professional counselor, as |
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defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code; or |
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(C) a psychologist, as defined by Section |
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501.002, Occupations Code; |
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(2) one member whose parent, sibling, child, or |
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grandparent has been incarcerated; and |
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(3) one but not more than three members who have |
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bachelor's degrees in criminal justice or a related field and who |
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are former employees of a law enforcement agency. |
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(b) Appointments to the board must be made without regard to |
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the [race, color,] disability, [sex,] religion, or age[, or |
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national origin] of the appointed members. |
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(c) The composition of the board must reflect the ethnic |
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diversity of the inmate population of the department, and at least |
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half of the members of the board must be female. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act does not |
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affect the entitlement of a member serving on the Board of Pardons |
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and Paroles immediately before the effective date of this Act to |
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continue to serve for the remainder of the member's term. As the |
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terms of members expire, the governor shall appoint or reappoint |
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members who have the qualifications required by Section 508.031, |
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Government Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |