HBA-DMD, PDH H.B. 1315 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1315 By: Lewis, Glenn Corrections 4/5/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles (board) are required to meet publicly only in order to conduct a hearing under Section 508.281 (Hearing), Government Code. However, the board is not required to hold public meetings when performing a majority of their duties, including when making decisions on clemency requests. H.B. 1315 provides that members of the board must meet as a body to perform all of their duties. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 508.047(b) and (d), Government Code, as follows: (b) Provides that members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles must, rather than are not required to, meet as a body to perform the members' duties in clemency matters. (d) Makes a conforming change. Deletes an exception. SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 551.124 (Board of Pardons and Paroles), Government Code. Section 551.124 authorizes the Board of Pardons and Paroles to hold a hearing on clemency matters by telephone conference call. SECTION 3.Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4.Emergency clause.