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.