78R136 KEL-D

By:  Ellis                                                        S.B. No. 219



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the manner in which the Board of Pardons and Paroles 
performs duties related to clemency in capital cases.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Section 508.047(b), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(b)  The members of the board are not required to meet as a 
body to perform the members' duties in clemency matters, except in a 
capital case.
	SECTION 2.   Section 551.124, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	Sec. 551.124.  BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES. At the call of 
the presiding officer of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the board 
may hold a hearing on clemency matters, other than matters 
involving a capital case, by telephone conference call.
	SECTION 3.   The change in law made by this Act applies only 
to  clemency duties performed by the Board of Pardons and Paroles on 
or after the effective date of this Act.  Duties performed before 
the effective date of this Act are covered by the law in effect at 
the time the duties were performed, and the former law is continued 
in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4.   This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.