This week's legislative listing leads with bills that are still alive, a maybe list, and those that are dead for the session. Monday, May 9 is the 119th day of the 140 day session, which will adjourn the night of Monday, May 30. The big deadline of next week is Thursday, May 12, the last day for the House to consider 2nd reading of HB/HJR's on the Daily or Supplemental calendars. The Senate, because of procedures routinely used for suspending rules, has greater time flexibility. As always, please e-mail/call with any questions, suggestions, or ideas. Steve Hall 512.478.7300 (o) [email protected] www.StandDown.org Current Status TX Death Penalty Legislation 05-06-2005 Alive HB 268 Keel Relating to the qualifications and appointment of counsel for indigent defendants in capital cases. Senator Hinojosa (the Senate sponsor) and Rep. Keel are trying to work out language agreeable to both. Bill History: 03-21-05 H Passed (Vote: Y:140/N: 0) 03-21-05 S Received in the Senate - Not referred 03-30-05 S Referred to Senate Committee on Senate Criminal Justice 05-03-05 S Meeting set for 1:30 P.M. or Adj., E1.016, Senate Criminal Justice 05-03-05 S Committee action pending Senate Criminal Justice SB 60 Lucio Goolsby Relating to the punishment for a capital offense. There is some indication LWoP may move to the House floor this coming week. Bill History: 04-18-05 H Referred to House Committee on House Criminal Jurisprudence 04-19-05 H Meeting set for On Adj., E2.016, House Criminal Jurisprudence 04-19-05 H Committee action pending House Criminal Jurisprudence 04-20-05 H Voted favorably from committee as substituted House Criminal Jurisprudence 04-22-05 H Reported from committee as substituted House Criminal Jurisprudence SB 925 Duncan Relating to competency to be executed in a capital case. Bill History: 04-13-05 S Recommended for Local/Uncontested Calendar 04-21-05 S Set on the Local Calendar 04-21-05 S Passed on local calendar (Vote: Y: 31/N: 0) 04-21-05 H Received in the House - Not referred 04-29-05 H Referred to House Committee on House Criminal Jurisprudence SB 1263 Whitmire Relating to the creation of a commission to ensure the quality of forensic science. General Remarks: Creates oversight body. Bill History: 04-19-05 S Passed (Vote: Y: 28/N: 1) 04-19-05 H Received in the House - Not referred 04-21-05 H Referred to House Committee on House Criminal Jurisprudence 04-25-05 H Rereferred to Committee on House Law Enforcement 05-09-05 H Meeting set for 1:30 P.M. or Adj., E1.014, House Law Enforcement Theoretically Possible HB 93 Riddle Relating to the showing the cause of death on the death certificate of an inmate of the Department of Criminal Justice who is lawfully executed. Specific Remarks: Changes cause of death noted on death certificate. Has been introduced before and failed to advance. Bill History: 03-23-05 H 1 Floor amendment(s) adopted 03-23-05 H Passed to third reading (Vote: Y:119/N: 23) 03-29-05 H Laid out for discussion 03-29-05 H 1 Floor amendment(s) adopted 03-29-05 H Passed (Vote: Y:136/N: 4) HB 646 Otto Relating to the provision of certain reports and records requested by the attorney general. Bill History: 04-07-05 H Committee substitute adopted 04-07-05 H Passed to third reading on local calendar 04-07-05 H Passed on local calendar 04-11-05 S Received in the Senate - Not referred 04-12-05 S Referred to Senate Committee on Senate Criminal Justice SB 548 Ellis, Rodney Relating to the manner in which the Board of Pardons and Paroles performs duties related to clemency in capital cases. Bill History: 04-06-05 S Meeting set for 1:30 P.M. or Adj., E1.036, Senate Criminal Justice 04-06-05 S Committee action pending Senate Criminal Justice 04-12-05 S Voted favorably from committee as substituted Senate Criminal Justice 04-14-05 S Reported from committee as substituted Senate Criminal Justice 05-03-05 S Placed on the Senate Intent Calendar for SB 1507 Hinojosa Relating to the sentencing procedure in capital felony cases. Bill History: 05-03-05 S Set on the Local Calendar 05-03-05 S Committee substitute adopted 05-03-05 S Passed on local calendar (Vote: Y: 31/N: 0) 05-03-05 H Received in the House - Not referred 05-05-05 H Referred to House Committee on House Criminal Jurisprudence Almost Certainly Dead for the Session (I have stripped out bills that have not been reported out of committee) HB 434 Dutton Relating to the punishment for a capital felony committed by a person who is younger than 18 years of age at the time of committing the felony. Passage of this legislation is not required. The Simmons decision barring the execution of juvenile offenders is the law of the land. Bill History: 02-03-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Criminal Jurisprudence 03-08-05 H Meeting set for 2:00 P.M., E2.016, House Criminal Jurisprudence 03-15-05 H Meeting set for 2:00 P.M. or Adj., E2.016, House Criminal Jurisprudence 03-15-05 H Voted favorably from committee on House Criminal Jurisprudence 03-18-05 H Reported favorably from committee on House Criminal Jurisprudence HB 966 Haggerty Relating to the murder of a commissioned security officer as a capital offense. Specific Remarks: Death penalty expansion bill by Haggerty. Makes murder of private security personnel a capital crime. Bill History: 02-09-05 H Filed 02-14-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Criminal Jurisprudence 04-13-05 H Subcommittee meeting set for 2:00 P.m. or Adj., JHR 110, House Criminal Jurisprudence 04-13-05 H Committee action pending House Criminal Jurisprudence HB 3396 Gallego Relating to the use of the substance pancuronium bromide to execute an inmate sentenced to death. Bill History: 03-11-05 H Filed 03-23-05 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Criminal Jurisprudence 04-20-05 H Subcommittee meeting set for On Adj., E1.026, House Criminal Jurisprudence 04-19-05 H Sent to subcommittee House Criminal Jurisprudence 04-20-05 H Committee action pending House Criminal Jurisprudence Dead (I have not included the other legislation not in a procedural position to move.) SB 544 Shapleigh Relating to the creation of a commission to study capital punishment in Texas. Unable to secure 21 votes to bring to the Senate floor. Some senators specifically cited the Governor's Criminal Justice Advisory Council as reason not to create study cmsn. Council members expected to be named after legislative session. Companions: HB 493 (I) Bill History: 04-06-05 S Not heard in committee Senate Criminal Justice 04-12-05 S Failed in committee Senate Criminal Justice 04-13-05 S Voted favorably from committee on Senate Criminal Justice 04-14-05 S Reported favorably from committee on Senate Criminal Justice 04-26-05 S Placed on the Senate Intent Calendar for
