MINUTES 
                                           
                         SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE 
                               Thursday, May 6, 2004 
                           10:00 a.m. or upon adjournment 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.016 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public meeting of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence  
         was held on Thursday, May 6, 2004, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth                  Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.             Senator Chris Harris 
         Senator Kip Averitt                     Senator Royce West 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m.  The  
         Committee was in recess from the previous meeting.    
          
         The chair gave opening remarks.  
          
         The Committee heard invited and public testimony on Interim  
         Charge 4, relating to the insanity defense laws, specifically  
         evaluating the impact of changing the defense of "not guilty by  
         reason of insanity" to "guilty, but insane."       
              
         The following witnesses testified: 
         The Honorable Greg Abbott, Attorney General of Texas 
         Raphael Guerrero, Office of Attorney General 
          
         The clerk called roll.  There was a quorum present.  
          
         Senator Gallegos moved approval of the minutes from the previous  
         meeting held on March 29, 2004; without objection, it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         The following witnesses testified: 
         The Honorable Matt Bingham, Criminal District Attorney, Smith  
         County 
         Kevin Keating, Assistant District Attorney, Harris County 
         Kaylynn Williford, Assistant District Attorney, Harris County                    
         Amy Smith, Victim Witness Coordinator, Harris County         
          
         At 12:26 p.m. Senator Wentworth moved that the Committee stand  
         recessed until 1:15 p.m; without objection, it was so ordered.  
  
         At 1:15 p.m. the Committee reconvened.  
          
         The following witnesses testified: 
         Keith Hampton, Texas Criminal Defense Attorneys Association                      
         Joe Lovelace, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)  
         -Texas 
         Dee Kifowit, Director, Texas Correctional Office on Offenders  
              with Medical or Mental Impairments (TCOOMMI) 
         James E. Smith, Chief Executive Officer, North Texas State  
         Hospital             
         Dr. Ollie J. Seay, Psychologist, Texas Psychological Association 
         Dr. Mary Alice Conroy, Psychologist, Texas Psychological  
         Assocation   
         Denise Brady, Public Policy Analyst, Mental Health Association  
         in Texas 
         Beth Mitchell, Advocacy, Inc. 
         Genevieve Hearon, Executive Director, Capacity For Justice 
          
         There being no further business, at 2:40 p.m. Senator Wentworth  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         __________________________ 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair 
          
         __________________________ 
         Stephanie Hoover, Clerk