By:  Kamel                                             H.J.R. No. 2
       73R222 CLG-D
                                  A JOINT RESOLUTION
    1-1  proposing a constitutional amendment relating to prohibiting
    1-2  persons convicted of offenses committed on or after January 1,
    1-3  1994, from being released from the institutional division of the
    1-4  Texas Department of Criminal Justice on parole or to mandatory
    1-5  supervision.
    1-6        BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-7        SECTION 1.  Article IV, Section 11, of the Texas Constitution
    1-8  is amended to read as follows:
    1-9        Sec. 11.  (a)  The Legislature may not authorize the release
   1-10  from the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal
   1-11  Justice on parole or to mandatory supervision of a person convicted
   1-12  of an offense committed on or after January 1, 1994 <shall by law
   1-13  establish a Board of Pardons and Paroles and shall require it to
   1-14  keep record of its actions and the reasons for its actions>.  The
   1-15  Legislature shall have authority to enact <parole laws and> laws
   1-16  that require or permit courts to inform juries about the effect of
   1-17  good conduct time and eligibility for parole or mandatory
   1-18  supervision on the period of incarceration served by a defendant
   1-19  convicted of a criminal offense committed before January 1, 1994.
   1-20        (b)  In all criminal cases, except treason and impeachment,
   1-21  the Governor shall have power, after conviction, <on the written
   1-22  signed recommendation and advice of the Board of Pardons and
   1-23  Paroles, or a majority thereof,> to grant reprieves and
   1-24  commutations of punishment and pardons; and under such rules as the
    2-1  Legislature may prescribe, <and upon the written recommendation and
    2-2  advice of a majority of the Board of Pardons and Paroles,> he shall
    2-3  have the power to remit fines and forfeitures.  The Governor shall
    2-4  have the power to grant one reprieve in any capital case for a
    2-5  period not to exceed thirty (30) days; and he shall have power to
    2-6  revoke conditional pardons.  With the advice and consent of the
    2-7  Legislature, he may grant reprieves, commutations of punishment and
    2-8  pardons in cases of treason.
    2-9        SECTION 2.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
   2-10  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 2, 1993.
   2-11  The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against
   2-12  the proposition:  "The constitutional amendment prohibiting persons
   2-13  convicted of offenses committed on or after January 1, 1994, from
   2-14  being released from the institutional division of the Texas
   2-15  Department of Criminal Justice on parole or to mandatory
   2-16  supervision."