85R7822 MAW-F     By: Krause H.B. No. 1551       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of a commission to review certain penal   laws of this state.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  COMMISSION TO STUDY CERTAIN PENAL LAWS. (a)  A   commission is created to study and review all penal laws of this   state other than criminal offenses:                (1)  under the Penal Code;                (2)  under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code; or                (3)  related to the operation of a motor vehicle.          (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   unnecessary, unclear, duplicative, overly broad, or otherwise   insufficient to serve the intended purpose of the law, including   the laws identified by the commission created by Section 29,   Chapter 1251 (H.B. 1396), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular   Session, 2015, as requiring additional review.          (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)  two members appointed by the chief justice of the   Supreme Court of Texas; and                (5)  one member 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 representatives of all areas   of the criminal justice system, including prosecutors, defense   attorneys, judges, legal scholars, and relevant business   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, 2018, 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, the Texas Court of   Criminal Appeals, and the standing committees of the house of   representatives and the senate with primary jurisdiction over   criminal justice. 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, 2018.          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, 2017.