By Ellis                                               S.B. No. 793
         77R6977 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 in capital cases.
 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 are not required to meet as a
 1-8     body to perform the members' duties in clemency matters, except in
 1-9     a capital case.
1-10           SECTION 2.  Section 551.124, Government Code, is amended to
1-11     read as follows:
1-12           Sec. 551.124.  Board of Pardons and Paroles. At the call of
1-13     the presiding officer of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the
1-14     board may hold a hearing on clemency matters, other than matters
1-15     involving a capital case, by telephone conference call.
1-16           SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
1-17     to  clemency duties performed by the Board of Pardons and Paroles
1-18     on or after the effective date of this Act.  Duties performed
1-19     before the effective date of this Act are covered by the law in
1-20     effect at the time the duties were performed, and the former law is
1-21     continued in effect for that purpose.
1-22           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-23     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-24     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-1     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-2     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.