By: Toth H.B. No. 2881
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the Task Force to Reduce Habitual
  Incidents of Driving While Intoxicated.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 423 to read as follows:
         CHAPTER 423. TASK FORCE TO REDUCE HABITUAL INCIDENTS OF
  DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED.
         Sec. 423.001.  CREATION. The Task Force to Reduce Habitual
  Incidents of Driving While Intoxicated is created.
         Sec 423.002.  COMPOSITION. The task force is composed of the
  following voluntary twelve members:
         (a)  six member appointed by the governor, consisting of:
               (1)  one member who is a judge from a Texas specialty
  court;
               (2)  one member with expertise in specialty courts
  designed to address addiction;
               (3)  one member who has been charged with or convicted
  of a Driving While Intoxicated offense;
               (4)  one member who has been a victim of a Driving While
  Intoxicated offense;
               (5)  one member who has expertise in criminal justice;
  and
               (6)  one member who has expertise in best practice
  substance abuse treatment;
         (b)  three members appointed by the lieutenant governor, one
  of whom is a prosecuting attorney, one of whom is a public defense
  attorney, and one of whom is a university scholar with expertise in
  substance abuse treatment; and,
         (c)  three members appointed by the speaker of the house of
  representatives, one of whom is a state representative, one of whom
  is a state senator, and one of whom is appropriately qualified as
  determined by the speaker.
         Sec. 423.003.  APPOINTMENT OF PRESIDING OFFICER. The
  governor shall designate a member of the task force to serve as
  presiding officer.
         Sec. 423.004.  DUTIES.  (a) The task force shall study the
  best practice responses to habitual driving while intoxicated
  offenses, for purposes of reducing habitual incidents of driving
  while intoxicated and incidents of driving fatalities among
  intoxicated drivers.
         (b)  The task force shall compile a detailed report of its
  findings and make recommendations for the adoption and
  implementation of best practice responses to habitual driving while
  intoxicated and shall submit the report to the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
  representatives not later the December 1, 2014.
         (c)  The task force shall have the assistance of the Texas
  Legislative Council and the Legislative Budget Board in performing
  its duties.
         Sec 423.005.  EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and
  this Act expires on January 1, 2015.
         SECTION 2.  The appointments to the Task Force to Reduce
  Habitual Incidents of Driving While Intoxicated required by Chapter
  423, Government Code, as added by this Act, shall be made as soon as
  practicable after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2013.