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.