By: Place H.B. No. 537
73R2675 GWK-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the procedures for determining eligibility for parole
1-3 of a defendant serving a life sentence after conviction of a
1-4 capital felony.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Section 7, Article 42.18, Code of Criminal
1-7 Procedure, is amended by amending Subsection (e) and adding
1-8 Subsection (g) to read as follows:
1-9 (e) Except as provided by Subsection (g) of this section, in
1-10 <In> matters of parole, release to mandatory supervision, and
1-11 revocation of parole or mandatory supervision, the board members
1-12 shall act in panels comprised of three persons in each panel. The
1-13 composition of the respective panels shall be designated by the
1-14 chairman of the board. A majority of each panel shall constitute a
1-15 quorum for the transaction of its business, and its decisions shall
1-16 be by majority vote.
1-17 (g) The board may grant parole to a person convicted of a
1-18 capital felony only on a majority vote of the entire membership of
1-19 the board.
1-20 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
1-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-1 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-2 passage, and it is so enacted.