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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Criminal Justice Legislative |
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Oversight Committee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Subtitle C, Title 3, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBTITLE C. LEGISLATIVE AGENCIES AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES |
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SECTION 2. Subtitle C, Title 3, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 328 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 328. CRIMINAL JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE |
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Sec. 328.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "committee" |
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means the Criminal Justice Legislative Oversight Committee. |
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Sec. 328.002. ESTABLISHMENT; COMPOSITION. (a) The Criminal |
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Justice Legislative Oversight Committee is established to provide |
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objective research, analysis, and recommendations to help guide |
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state criminal justice policies. |
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(b) The committee is composed of six members as follows: |
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(1) the chair of the Senate Committee on Criminal |
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Justice; |
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(2) the chair of the House Committee on Corrections; |
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(3) two members of the senate appointed by the |
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lieutenant governor; and |
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(4) two members of the house of representatives |
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appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. |
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(c) In making appointments under Subsection (b)(3) or (4), |
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the lieutenant governor or the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, as applicable, shall give first consideration to |
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members of the senate or the house of representatives who are |
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members of the Senate Finance Committee or the House Appropriations |
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Committee. |
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(d) An appointed member of the committee serves at the |
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pleasure of the appointing official. |
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Sec. 328.003. PRESIDING OFFICER; TERM. (a) The lieutenant |
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governor and the speaker of the house of representatives shall |
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appoint the presiding officer of the committee on an alternating |
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basis. |
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(b) The presiding officer of the committee serves a two-year |
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term that expires February 1 of each odd-numbered year. |
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Sec. 328.004. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The committee shall: |
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(1) use statistical analyses and other research |
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methods to conduct an in-depth examination of the criminal justice |
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system in this state that includes: |
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(A) an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of |
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the use of state and local funds in the criminal justice system; |
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(B) an identification of critical problems in the |
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criminal justice system; and |
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(C) a determination of the long-range needs of |
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the criminal justice system; |
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(2) recommend to the legislature: |
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(A) strategies to solve the problems identified |
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under Subdivision (1)(B); and |
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(B) policy priorities to address the long-range |
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needs determined under Subdivision (1)(B); and |
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(3) advise and assist the legislature in developing |
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plans, programs, and proposed legislation to improve the |
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effectiveness of the criminal justice system. |
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(b) The committee has all other powers and duties provided |
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to a special committee by: |
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(1) Subchapter B, Chapter 301; |
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(2) the rules of the senate and the house of |
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representatives; and |
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(3) policies of the senate and house committees on |
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administration. |
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Sec. 328.005. MEETINGS. The committee shall meet at the |
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call of the presiding officer. |
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Sec. 328.006. SUPPORT STAFF; AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT. The |
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committee may hire support staff or may contract with universities |
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or other suitable entities to assist the committee in carrying out |
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the committee's duties. |
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Sec. 328.007. REPORT. Not later than January 1 of each |
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odd-numbered year, the committee shall submit to the legislature a |
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report that contains the recommendations described by Section |
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328.004(a)(2). |
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SECTION 3. (a) The speaker of the house of representatives |
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and the lieutenant governor shall appoint members to the Criminal |
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Justice Legislative Oversight Committee under Chapter 328, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, |
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2008. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 328.003, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, the speaker of the house of representatives, not |
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later than January 15, 2008, shall appoint a presiding officer for |
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the committee. The presiding officer appointed by the speaker of |
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the house of representatives under this section serves a one-year |
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term that begins on February 1, 2008, and ends on February 1, 2009. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |