82R9520 JSA-D
By: Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 2863
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of certain legislative committees to
investigate alleged violations of law by state officials,
employees, and agencies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 301.0215 to read as follows:
Sec. 301.0215. INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY OF OTHER
COMMITTEES. (a) In this section, "misconduct" includes a wilful or
intentional violation of law, conduct that constitutes a criminal
offense, a violation of standards of conduct established by law, or
a violation of law involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, an
obstruction of justice, or the misuse of public resources.
(b) The House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence and
Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, or a successor standing
committee to either of those committees with jurisdiction in the
applicable house over legislation relating to general criminal law,
may initiate or continue inquiries and hearings concerning
allegations of misconduct by state officials, employees, or
agencies regarding the conduct of public business or the
expenditure of state funds.
(c) In enacting this section, each house of the legislature
is exercising its constitutional authority to determine the rules
of its own proceedings. The requirements of this section are
cumulative of any other requirements of law or rule regarding
committees of the legislature.
SECTION 2. 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, 2011.