Bill Text: TX SB2183 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of an innocence project grant program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-29 - Referred to Criminal Justice [SB2183 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB2183-Introduced.html
85R5561 LHC-F | ||
By: Menéndez | S.B. No. 2183 |
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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 the following entities are eligible to receive | ||
grants under the program: | ||
(1) a public or private law school in Texas; or | ||
(2) a nonprofit organization based in this state that | ||
operates an innocence project. | ||
(d) The commission may adopt rules to implement this | ||
section. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |