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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to studies and reports on the prosecution of criminal |
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cases involving abusable synthetic substances. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. STUDY. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Abusable synthetic substance" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 484.001, Health and Safety Code. |
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(2) "Department" means the Department of Public |
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Safety. |
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(b) The department shall conduct a study regarding the |
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prosecution of criminal cases involving abusable synthetic |
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substances. |
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(c) The study under this section must address: |
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(1) best practices in the prosecution of criminal |
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cases involving abusable synthetic substances; and |
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(2) the necessity of and funding for expert witnesses |
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in investigations and prosecutions of criminal cases involving |
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abusable synthetic substances. |
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(d) The department shall compile a report of the results of |
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the study, including any legislative recommendations, and submit |
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the report to the legislature not later than January 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEE. (a) In this section, |
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"abusable synthetic substance" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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484.001, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) A joint interim committee is created to study, review, |
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and report on the prosecution of criminal cases involving abusable |
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synthetic substances. |
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(c) The joint interim committee shall be composed of three |
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senators appointed by the lieutenant governor and three members of |
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the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives. |
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(d) The lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall each designate a co-chair from among the |
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joint interim committee members. |
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(e) The joint interim committee shall convene at the joint |
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call of the co-chairs. |
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(f) The joint interim committee has all other powers and |
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duties provided to a special or select committee by the rules of the |
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senate and house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, |
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Government Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees |
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on administration. |
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(g) The joint interim committee shall evaluate: |
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(1) the cost and efficacy of various methods to |
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analyze abusable synthetic substances and test persons for the use |
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of abusable synthetic substances; |
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(2) public outreach and marketing campaigns that have |
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the potential to reduce use of abusable synthetic substances; and |
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(3) the availability and cost of appropriate treatment |
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for individuals who use abusable synthetic substances. |
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(h) The joint interim committee shall prepare a report of |
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the findings of the committee that includes any proposed reforms. |
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The committee shall submit the report to the legislature not later |
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than January 1, 2019. |
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(i) Not later than the 60th day after the effective date of |
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this Act, the lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall appoint the members of the joint interim |
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committee in accordance with this section. |
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(j) The joint interim committee created under this section |
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is abolished January 2, 2019. |
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SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 2, 2019. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |