SRC-TJG S.B. 601 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 601
78R3620 KCR-DBy: Ellis, Rodney
Criminal Justice
3/24/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current Texas law allows the governor to issue one 30-day reprieve in any
capital case.  The administration of the death penalty includes the
authority to grant a reprieve because of the possibility of mitigating
information that would warrant a lesser sentence.  In certain situations,
the governor's ability to grant one 30-day reprieve may not be sufficient.
As proposed, S.B. 601 allows the governor to grant multiple reprieves when
warranted. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article 48.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, to require
the governor to have the power to grant one or more reprieves in any
capital case for a period not to exceed thirty days for each reprieve. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: January 1, 2004, if the accompanying
constitutional amendment is approved by the voters.