88R2678 JRR-D     By: Raymond H.B. No. 2543       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of the conviction integrity unit within   the office of the attorney general.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 402.0232 to read as follows:          Sec. 402.0232.  CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT. (a)  A   conviction integrity unit is created within the office of the   attorney general to review and make recommendations regarding   criminal convictions made in district and county courts of this   state.          (b)  The unit shall:                (1)  accept requests submitted by any person for the   review of a criminal conviction made in a district or county court   of this state;                (2)  develop criteria for determining which   convictions the unit will review;                (3)  review convictions to determine the existence and   nature of errors made during the prosecution of the case and to   ensure that the interest of justice has been served;                (4)  refer persons to a criminal defense attorney or an   organization that may be able to provide representation to the   convicted person in a postconviction proceeding;                (5)  make recommendations to the district attorney,   criminal district attorney, or county attorney that prosecuted each   case regarding the appropriate postconviction motions, writs, and   other proceedings that the unit believes are necessary to ensure   that the interest of justice is served;                (6)  if requested by the district attorney, criminal   district attorney, or county attorney that prosecuted the case,   provide assistance in completing the recommended motions, writs, or   other proceedings; and                (7)  analyze and examine each case in which a final   ruling is made by the court of criminal appeals on a writ of habeas   corpus granted for actual innocence and each case in which a   commutation of punishment or pardon is based on a claim of actual   innocence to determine systemic issues within the criminal justice   system.          (c)  The attorney general shall:                (1)  develop a form which a person may use to request   the review of a criminal conviction made in a district or county   court of this state; and                (2)  make the form described by Subdivision (1)   available on the attorney general's Internet website.          (d)  The criteria developed under Subsection (b)(2) must   prioritize:                (1)  convictions in which the death penalty has been   imposed; and                (2)  convictions for which the convicted person is   required to register for life as a sex offender under Chapter 62,   Code of Criminal Procedure.           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.