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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of an innocence project grant program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 79.039(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Each legal clinic or program in this state [that is
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operated by a law school and] that receives financial support from |
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the commission shall submit to the commission an annual report |
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regarding criminal cases: |
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(1) in which the clinic or program has provided legal |
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services to an indigent defendant during the preceding calendar |
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year; and |
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(2) in which: |
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(A) based on a finding of actual innocence, the |
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court of criminal appeals overturns a conviction; or |
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(B) the governor issues a pardon based on actual |
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innocence. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 79, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 79.041 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 79.041. INNOCENCE PROJECT GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Using |
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any funds available for the purpose, the commission may establish |
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an innocence project grant program to support: |
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(1) projects that screen, investigate, and litigate |
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post-conviction claims of actual innocence in non-capital cases in |
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this state; and |
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(2) associated expenses necessary to conduct those |
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activities. |
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(b) In making grant awards under the program, the commission |
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shall promote among projects coordinated strategies that will |
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enable those projects to efficiently screen requests for assistance |
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and to engage in effective investigation and litigation activities. |
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(c) Only a public or private law school in Texas is eligible |
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to receive grants under the program. |
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(d) A law school that receives a grant under Subsection (c) |
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may enter into a contract with a nonprofit organization that is |
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based in this state and operates an innocence project, provided |
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that the law school accepts primary responsibility for monitoring |
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the contract. |
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(e) The commission may adopt rules to implement this |
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section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |