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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, the Governor [he] shall have the power to remit |
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fines and forfeitures. The Governor shall have the power to grant |
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one or more reprieves [reprieve] in any capital case for a period |
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not to exceed 30 days for each reprieve; and the Governor [he] shall |
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have power to revoke conditional pardons. With the advice and |
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consent of the Legislature, the Governor may grant reprieves, |
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commutations of punishment and pardons in cases of treason. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2016, but only |
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if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 84th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2015, 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. |