| 1 | 1 | | By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1483 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to the review of clemency applications from certain |
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| 7 | 7 | | persons who were victims of human trafficking or family violence. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 48, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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| 10 | 10 | | amended by adding Article 48.015 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Art. 48.015. CLEMENCY REVIEW PANEL FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES. |
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| 12 | 12 | | (a) In this article: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (1) "Board" means the Board of Pardons and Paroles. |
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| 14 | 14 | | (2) "Clemency" means reprieves and commutations of |
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| 15 | 15 | | punishments and pardons. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (b) The board shall develop a process and form for persons |
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| 17 | 17 | | for persons convicted of an offense committed while under force, |
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| 18 | 18 | | fraud, duress or coercion as a result of being the victim of an |
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| 19 | 19 | | offense under Chapter 20A, Penal Code, or a victim of family |
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| 20 | 20 | | violence as defined in Chapter 71, Family Code to apply for |
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| 21 | 21 | | clemency. The board shall publish the application form on the |
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| 22 | 22 | | board's Internet website. An application for clemency may include |
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| 23 | 23 | | written recommendations from a majority of trial officials, as |
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| 24 | 24 | | defined by rule by the board, currently serving in the county in |
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| 25 | 25 | | which the person was convicted. |
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| 26 | 26 | | (c) On receipt of an application for clemency under this |
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| 27 | 27 | | article, the board shall review the application and, not later than |
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| 28 | 28 | | six months after the date they received the application, make a |
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| 29 | 29 | | recommendation to the governor regarding whether to grant clemency |
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| 30 | 30 | | to the applicant. |
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| 31 | 31 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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