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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a commission to study the terminology of |
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the penal laws and the justice system of this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. COMMISSION TO STUDY TERMINOLOGY OF PENAL LAWS |
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AND JUSTICE SYSTEM OF THIS STATE. (a) A commission is created to |
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study and review the terminology used in the penal laws and the |
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justice system of this state, including the use of the words |
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"crime," "criminal," "police," "police officer," and other similar |
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terms. |
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(b) The commission shall: |
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(1) consider the use of terminology described by |
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Subsection (a) of this section and evaluate whether the use of that |
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terminology has a negative impact on the involvement of persons in |
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the justice system of this state; and |
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(2) make recommendations to the legislature regarding |
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any changes in terminology described by Subsection (a) of this |
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section that may help to reduce the involvement of persons in the |
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justice system of this state. |
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(c) The commission is composed of one representative from |
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each of the following entities, appointed by the administrative |
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head of that entity: |
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(1) the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; |
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(2) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; |
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(3) the Caruth Police Institute located at the |
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University of North Texas at Dallas; |
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(4) the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas |
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Retiree Association; and |
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(5) the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management |
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Institute of Texas located at Sam Houston State University. |
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(d) The entities making appointments under Subsection (c) |
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of this section shall, to the greatest extent practicable, ensure |
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that the composition of the commission reflects the racial and |
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ethnic composition of the state. |
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(e) The members shall designate one member of the commission |
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to serve as the presiding officer of the commission and another |
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member of the commission to serve as the assistant presiding |
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officer of the commission. |
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(f) A member of the commission is not entitled to |
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compensation or reimbursement of expenses. |
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(g) The commission shall meet at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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(h) As reasonable and necessary for the commission to |
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fulfill the commission's duties under this Act: |
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(1) The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall |
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provide administrative support to the commission; and |
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(2) Prairie View A&M University shall provide research |
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assistance to the commission. |
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(i) Not later than November 1, 2022, the commission shall |
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report the commission's findings and recommendations to the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the standing committees of the house of |
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representatives and the senate with primary jurisdiction over |
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criminal justice matters. The commission shall include in its |
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recommendations any specific statutes that the commission |
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recommends revising or repealing. |
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SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. Not later than the 60th |
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day after the effective date of this Act, the entities making |
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appointments under Section 1(c) of this Act shall appoint the |
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members of the commission created under this Act. |
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SECTION 3. ABOLITION OF COMMISSION. The commission is |
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abolished and this Act expires December 31, 2022. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |