By:  Gallego                                           H.B. No. 379
       73R724 CLG-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to allowing a videotaped statement of the victim or close
    1-3  friend, guardian, or representative of the victim to be introduced
    1-4  at a parole hearing.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Section 8(f)(2), Article 42.18, Code of Criminal
    1-7  Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
    1-8              (2)  Before a parole panel considers for parole a
    1-9  prisoner who is serving a sentence for an offense in which a person
   1-10  was a victim, the pardons and paroles division, using the name and
   1-11  address provided on the victim impact statement, shall make a
   1-12  reasonable effort to notify a victim of the prisoner's crime or if
   1-13  the victim has a legal guardian or is deceased, to notify the legal
   1-14  guardian or close relative of the deceased victim.  If the notice
   1-15  is sent to a guardian or close relative of a deceased victim, the
   1-16  notice must contain a request by the pardons and paroles division
   1-17  that the guardian or relative inform other persons having an
   1-18  interest in the matter that the prisoner is being considered for
   1-19  parole.  If a hearing is held, the parole panel shall allow a
   1-20  victim, guardian of a victim, close relative of a deceased victim,
   1-21  or a representative of a victim or his guardian or close relative
   1-22  to provide a written or videotaped statement.  This subsection may
   1-23  not be construed to limit the number of persons who may provide
   1-24  statements for or against the release of the prisoner on parole.
    2-1  The parole panel shall consider the statements and the information
    2-2  provided in a victim impact statement in determining whether or not
    2-3  to recommend parole.  However, the failure of the pardons and
    2-4  paroles division to comply with notice requirements of this
    2-5  subsection is not a ground for revocation of parole.
    2-6        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-7  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-8  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-9  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-10  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-11  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-12  passage, and it is so enacted.