H.B. 301 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 301 By: Talton Corrections Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, former board members or employees of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, or the Texas Department of Criminal Justice may not, before the 10th anniversary of the end of employment or board membership, represent any person before the Board of Pardons and Paroles or a parole panel or receive compensation for services rendered on behalf of any person regarding a matter pending before the Board of Pardons and Paroles or a parole panel. H.B. 301 removes an undue burden on former employees to conduct business in their chosen professional field. H.B. 301 amends current statute to require that a former employee or member of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, or the Texas Department of Criminal Justice wait two years before representing before the Board of Pardons and Paroles or a parole panel. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 301 amends Section 508.083(b) to require that former employees of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles or the Texas Board of Criminal Justice wait two years before representing a person before the Board of Pardons and Paroles or a parole panel. The bill amends Section 508.083(c) to require that former employees of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice wait two years before representing a person before the Board of Pardons and Paroles or a parole panel. H.B. 301 repeals Section 508.083(d), which states that a former employee of the board or department may not represent any person or receive compensation for services rendered on behalf of any person regarding a matter pending before the Board of Pardons and Paroles or a parole panel on a subject that the former employee was directly concerned or had personal involvement. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.