87R3425 JCG-D

By: Dutton H.B. No. 758

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) one member appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas; and

(5) two members 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, 2022, 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, 2022.

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, 2021.