BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 38 By: Brown Criminal Justice 3-22-95 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND Currently, only the executioner and other persons necessary to assist in conducting the execution, the board of directors of the Department of Corrections, two physicians, the spiritual advisor of the condemned, the chaplains of the institutional division of the Department of Criminal Justice, the county judge and sheriff of the county, and relatives or friends of the condemned person are allowed to attend the execution of a capital felon. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 38 permits victims of a crime or their families to attend the execution of the capital felon responsible for committing the crime against them. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Article 43.20, Code of Criminal Procedure, as follows: Art. 43.20. PRESENT AT EXECUTION. Authorizes no more than five close relatives of the deceased victim to be present at an execution. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.