87R5051 JSC-D
 
  By: Dutton H.B. No. 748
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the restoration of civil rights to a criminal
  defendant.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 48.05(a)(2), Code of Criminal Procedure,
  is amended to read as follows:
               (2)  This article applies to:
                     (A)  a federal offense, other than an offense
  involving:
                           (i)  violence or the threat of violence;
                           (ii)  drugs; or
                           (iii)  firearms; [and]
                     (B)  an offense under the laws of another country,
  other than an offense involving:
                           (i)  violence or the threat of violence;
                           (ii)  drugs; or
                           (iii)  firearms, if the elements of the
  offense are substantially similar to elements of an offense under
  the laws of this state punishable as a felony; and
                     (C)  an offense under the laws of this state,
  other than an offense involving:
                           (i)  violence or the threat of violence;
                           (ii)  drugs; or
                           (iii)  firearms, if the offense is
  punishable as a felony.
         SECTION 2.  Article 48.05(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  An individual may not apply for restoration of civil
  rights under this article unless:
               (1)  the individual has completed the sentence for the
  offense; and
               (2)  the conviction occurred[:
                     [(A)]  three or more years before the date of
  application[, if the offense is a federal offense; or
                     [(B)  two or more years before the date of
  application, if the offense is an offense under the laws of another
  country; and
               [(3)  the individual has not been convicted at any
  other time of an offense under the laws of this state, another
  state, or the United States].
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies to a defendant who is convicted
  of an offense before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.