HBA-DMD, PDH H.B. 1315 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1315
By: Lewis, Glenn
Corrections
4/5/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles (board) are required
to meet publicly only in order to conduct a hearing under Section 508.281
(Hearing), Government Code. However, the board is not required to hold
public meetings when performing a majority of their duties, including when
making decisions on clemency requests. H.B. 1315 provides that members of
the board must meet as a body to perform all of their duties. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 508.047(b) and (d), Government Code, as follows:

(b)  Provides that members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles must, rather
than are not required to, meet as a body to perform the members' duties in
clemency matters. 

(d)  Makes a conforming change.  Deletes an exception.

SECTION 2.  Repealer:  Section 551.124 (Board of Pardons and Paroles),
Government Code. Section 551.124 authorizes the Board of Pardons and
Paroles to hold a hearing on clemency matters by telephone conference call. 

SECTION 3.Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.