HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOTICE OF FORMAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

COMMITTEE:    Criminal Jurisprudence
             Interim Charge 1 

TIME & DATE:  N/A
Thursday, October 22, 2020 

PLACE:       N/A 
CHAIR:       Rep. Nicole Collier 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and difficulty in scheduling public hearings at this time, the committee is conducting necessary oversight functions through an information gathering process under Section 301.014, Government Code. 

Pursuant to Rule 3, Section 7, Rules of the House of Representatives of the State of Texas, as passed by the 86th Legislature, the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence has jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:

(1) criminal law, prohibitions, standards, and penalties;

(2) probation and parole;

(3) criminal procedure in the courts of Texas;

(4) revision or amendment of the Penal Code; and

(5) the following state agencies: the Office of State Prosecuting

Attorney and the Texas State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision.

This is notice that the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence is seeking written submissions and input from state agencies, interested parties and the public in regard to the interim charge outlined below.

The Committee also seeks written submissions and input from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Agriculture, and the Texas Department of State Health Services regarding the section of Interim Charge 1 relating to HB 1325.

Submissions received in response to this request will be transmitted to members of the committee and posted on the House website at https://house.texas.gov/committees/committee/requests-for-information/?committeeCode=C220

Submission Guidelines:

*Submissions must be in Microsoft Word format or Adobe PDF.

*Submissions are requested to be limited to 5 pages in length. 

*Submissions must be submitted via e-mail to the Chief Committee Clerk, at tiffany.white_hc@house.texas.gov and are requested to include "Interim Charge" and corresponding number in the subject line for quick identification. 

*Please include the following information in the submission email: submitter name, organization or entity (if applicable and an authorized representative), mailing address, email, and telephone number.

*The deadline for all submissions is Thursday, November 5, 2020 by 5:00PM.

*Comments received in response to this Request for Information may be publicly posted on TLO and TLIS.  When submitting comments, please remove any personal identifying information, such as your personal phone number, residence address, or email address.

The Committee seeks responses on the Interim Charge listed below: 

Interim Charge 1: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 86th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

     HB 1325, which relates to the production and transportation of hemp.     Examine current procedures and resources used to determine the amount    of tetrahydrocannabinol in a substance and prosecutorial impediments    to ensuring existing state law can be enforced.

In the event it becomes feasible to safely conduct a public meeting, the Committee reserves the right to hold an in-person hearing on this charge.