By:  Duncan                                                       S.B. No. 591

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the composition of the Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Impairments. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Section 614.002, Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) The governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the senate: (1) three [four] at-large members who are experienced in conducting competency evaluations in this state, each of whom is either: (A) a licensed physician certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Incorporated, with added or special qualifications in forensic psychiatry; or (B) a licensed psychologist who has a doctoral degree in psychology and is certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in forensic psychology [have expertise in mental health, mental retardation, or developmental disabilities, one of whom must be a psychiatrist]; (2) one at-large member who is the judge of a court with criminal jurisdiction; (3) one at-large member who is a prosecuting attorney; (4) one at-large member who is a criminal defense attorney; (5) two [one] at-large members who have expertise in either the field of health and human services or the field of higher education [member from an established pretrial services agency]; and (6) one at-large member who has expertise in the criminal justice system. SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2003. (b) The changes in law made by this Act in the qualifications of the members of the Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Impairments do not affect the entitlement of a person serving as a member of the council immediately before September 1, 2003, to continue to carry out the functions of the person's office for the remainder of the person's term. The changes in law apply only to a person appointed on or after September 1, 2003. This Act does not prohibit a person who is a member of the Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Impairments immediately before September 1, 2003, from being reappointed as a council member if the person has the qualifications required for the position under Subsection (b), Section 614.002, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act.