86R6937 JCG-D
 
  By: Dutton H.B. No. 1377
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of a commission to review certain laws of
  this state that restrict the rights or activities of persons
  convicted of a felony offense and to make certain recommendations
  regarding those laws.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  COMMISSION TO STUDY CERTAIN LAWS THAT RESTRICT
  RIGHTS OR ACTIVITIES OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF FELONY OFFENSES.
  (a)  A commission is created to study and review all laws of this
  state that restrict the rights or activities of persons convicted
  of a felony offense, including:
               (1)  the right to vote;
               (2)  the right to serve on a grand or petit jury; and
               (3)  eligibility for certain occupational licenses.
         (b)  The commission shall:
               (1)  evaluate all laws described by Subsection (a) of
  this section; and
               (2)  make recommendations to the legislature regarding
  the repeal or amendment of laws that are identified as being overly
  restrictive or not otherwise serving the best interest of justice.
         (c)  The commission is composed of nine members appointed as
  follows:
               (1)  two members appointed by the governor;
               (2)  two members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
               (3)  two members appointed by the speaker of the house
  of representatives;
               (4)  two members appointed by the chief justice of the
  Supreme Court of Texas; and
               (5)  one member appointed by the presiding judge of the
  Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
         (d)  The officials making appointments to the commission
  under Subsection (c) of this section shall ensure that the
  membership of the commission includes judges, legal scholars, and
  relevant business and governmental interests.
         (e)  The governor shall designate one member of the
  commission to serve as the presiding officer of the commission.
         (f)  A member of the commission is not entitled to
  compensation or reimbursement of expenses.
         (g)  The commission shall meet at the call of the presiding
  officer.
         (h)  Not later than November 1, 2020, the commission shall
  report the commission's findings and recommendations to the
  governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
  representatives, the Supreme Court of Texas, and the Texas Court of
  Criminal Appeals. The commission shall include in its
  recommendations any specific statutes that the commission
  recommends repealing or amending.
         SECTION 2.  APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS.  Not later than the 60th
  day after the effective date of this Act, the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
  the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, and the presiding
  judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals shall appoint the
  members of the commission created under this Act.
         SECTION 3.  ABOLITION OF COMMISSION.  The commission is
  abolished and this Act expires December 31, 2020.
         SECTION 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  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, 2019.