By Ellis                                              S.B. No. 1698
         76R3049 GWK-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the manner in which the Board of Pardons and Paroles
 1-3     performs duties related to clemency.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 508.047(b), Government Code, is amended
 1-6     to read as follows:
 1-7           (b)  The members of the board must  [are not required to]
 1-8     meet as a body to perform the members' duties in clemency matters.
 1-9           SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
1-10     to  clemency duties performed by the Board of Pardons and Paroles
1-11     on or after the effective date of this Act.  Duties performed
1-12     before the effective date of this Act are covered by the law in
1-13     effect at the time the duties were performed, and the former law is
1-14     continued in effect for that purpose.
1-15           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-20     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-21     passage, and it is so enacted.