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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the governor to grant one or more |
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reprieves in a capital case. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 48.01(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In all criminal cases, except treason and impeachment, |
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the Governor shall have power, after conviction or successful |
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completion of a term of deferred adjudication community |
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supervision, on the written signed recommendation and advice of the |
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Board of Pardons and Paroles, or a majority thereof, to grant |
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reprieves and commutations of punishments and pardons; and upon the |
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written recommendation and advice of a majority of the Board of |
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Pardons and Paroles, he shall have the power to remit fines and |
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forfeitures. The Governor shall have the power to grant one or more |
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reprieves [reprieve] in any capital case for a period not to exceed |
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30 days for each reprieve; and he shall have power to revoke |
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conditional pardons. With the advice and consent of the |
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Legislature, the Governor may grant reprieves, commutations of |
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punishment and pardons in cases of treason. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2014, but only |
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if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 83rd Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2013, authorizing the governor to grant one or |
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more reprieves in a capital case is approved by the voters. If that |
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amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect. |