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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOTICE OF FORMAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION |
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COMMITTEE: Criminal Jurisprudence TIME &
DATE: N/A PLACE: N/A
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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.
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 Office of Court Administration, Texas Indigent Defense Commission, and the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs.
Submissions received in response to this request will be transmitted to members of the committee and posted on the House website.
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 3: Review the overall state of indigent defense and delivery of services to indigent defendants in Texas under the Fair Defense Act and other applicable laws. Examine the procedures for the appointment of counsel, including public defender options for rural communities, the monitoring of workloads and performance of attorneys, and the funding of those services. Examine counsel options for indigent defendants during magistrate proceedings and the administration and funding of county indigent defense systems. (Joint charge with the House Committee on County Affairs)
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.
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