Bill Text: TX HB2543 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the conviction integrity unit within the office of the attorney general.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-13 - Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence [HB2543 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB2543-Introduced.html
  88R2678 JRR-D
 
  By: Raymond H.B. No. 2543
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the conviction integrity unit within
  the office of the attorney general.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 402.0232 to read as follows:
         Sec. 402.0232.  CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT. (a)  A
  conviction integrity unit is created within the office of the
  attorney general to review and make recommendations regarding
  criminal convictions made in district and county courts of this
  state.
         (b)  The unit shall:
               (1)  accept requests submitted by any person for the
  review of a criminal conviction made in a district or county court
  of this state;
               (2)  develop criteria for determining which
  convictions the unit will review;
               (3)  review convictions to determine the existence and
  nature of errors made during the prosecution of the case and to
  ensure that the interest of justice has been served;
               (4)  refer persons to a criminal defense attorney or an
  organization that may be able to provide representation to the
  convicted person in a postconviction proceeding;
               (5)  make recommendations to the district attorney,
  criminal district attorney, or county attorney that prosecuted each
  case regarding the appropriate postconviction motions, writs, and
  other proceedings that the unit believes are necessary to ensure
  that the interest of justice is served;
               (6)  if requested by the district attorney, criminal
  district attorney, or county attorney that prosecuted the case,
  provide assistance in completing the recommended motions, writs, or
  other proceedings; and
               (7)  analyze and examine each case in which a final
  ruling is made by the court of criminal appeals on a writ of habeas
  corpus granted for actual innocence and each case in which a
  commutation of punishment or pardon is based on a claim of actual
  innocence to determine systemic issues within the criminal justice
  system.
         (c)  The attorney general shall:
               (1)  develop a form which a person may use to request
  the review of a criminal conviction made in a district or county
  court of this state; and
               (2)  make the form described by Subdivision (1)
  available on the attorney general's Internet website.
         (d)  The criteria developed under Subsection (b)(2) must
  prioritize:
               (1)  convictions in which the death penalty has been
  imposed; and
               (2)  convictions for which the convicted person is
  required to register for life as a sex offender under Chapter 62,
  Code of Criminal Procedure. 
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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