87R6626 MAW-D
By: Crockett H.B. No. 1459
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a racial disparity impact statement attached to certain
bills or resolutions creating or expanding criminal offenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 314, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 314.006 to read as follows:
Sec. 314.006. RACIAL DISPARITY IMPACT STATEMENT FOR
CRIMINAL OFFENSES. (a) The board shall prepare a racial disparity
impact statement for each bill or resolution that creates a new
offense or significantly expands the applicability of an existing
offense.
(b) The impact statement must include information
concerning the impact of the legislation on racial and ethnic
minority groups, including a statistical analysis of the impact on
those groups with regard to sentencing of defendants and the
eligibility of defendants for release on parole.
(c) The board shall consult with the Department of Public
Safety and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to develop a
protocol for analyzing the impact of the bill or resolution on
racial and ethnic minority groups.
(d) The impact statement must be attached to the bill or
resolution immediately following:
(1) the fiscal note attached under Section 314.003; or
(2) if a dynamic fiscal impact statement is prepared
under Section 314.005, the dynamic fiscal impact statement.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.