Bill Text: TX HB1967 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of an innocence project grant program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-11 - Placed on General State Calendar [HB1967 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB1967-Comm_Sub.html
85R19559 LHC-F | |||
By: Moody | H.B. No. 1967 | ||
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1967: | |||
By: Moody | C.S.H.B. No. 1967 |
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relating to the creation of an innocence project grant program. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 79.039(a), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(a) Each legal clinic or program in this state [ |
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the commission shall submit to the commission an annual report | ||
regarding criminal cases: | ||
(1) in which the clinic or program has provided legal | ||
services to an indigent defendant during the preceding calendar | ||
year; and | ||
(2) in which: | ||
(A) based on a finding of actual innocence, the | ||
court of criminal appeals overturns a conviction; or | ||
(B) the governor issues a pardon based on actual | ||
innocence. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 79, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 79.041 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 79.041. INNOCENCE PROJECT GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Using | ||
any funds available for the purpose, the commission may establish | ||
an innocence project grant program to support: | ||
(1) projects that screen, investigate, and litigate | ||
post-conviction claims of actual innocence in non-capital cases in | ||
this state; and | ||
(2) associated expenses necessary to conduct those | ||
activities. | ||
(b) In making grant awards under the program, the commission | ||
shall promote among projects coordinated strategies that will | ||
enable those projects to efficiently screen requests for assistance | ||
and to engage in effective investigation and litigation activities. | ||
(c) Only a public or private law school in Texas is eligible | ||
to receive grants under the program. | ||
(d) A law school that receives a grant under Subsection (c) | ||
may enter into a contract with a nonprofit organization that is | ||
based in this state and operates an innocence project, provided | ||
that the law school accepts primary responsibility for monitoring | ||
the contract. | ||
(e) The commission may adopt rules to implement this | ||
section. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |