Bill Text: TX HB2863 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the authority of certain legislative committees to investigate alleged violations of law by state officials, employees, and agencies.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-17 - Referred to State Affairs [HB2863 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB2863-Introduced.html
82R9520 JSA-D | ||
By: Davis of Dallas | H.B. No. 2863 |
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relating to the authority of certain legislative committees to | ||
investigate alleged violations of law by state officials, | ||
employees, and agencies. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 301.0215 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 301.0215. INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY OF OTHER | ||
COMMITTEES. (a) In this section, "misconduct" includes a wilful or | ||
intentional violation of law, conduct that constitutes a criminal | ||
offense, a violation of standards of conduct established by law, or | ||
a violation of law involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, an | ||
obstruction of justice, or the misuse of public resources. | ||
(b) The House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence and | ||
Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, or a successor standing | ||
committee to either of those committees with jurisdiction in the | ||
applicable house over legislation relating to general criminal law, | ||
may initiate or continue inquiries and hearings concerning | ||
allegations of misconduct by state officials, employees, or | ||
agencies regarding the conduct of public business or the | ||
expenditure of state funds. | ||
(c) In enacting this section, each house of the legislature | ||
is exercising its constitutional authority to determine the rules | ||
of its own proceedings. The requirements of this section are | ||
cumulative of any other requirements of law or rule regarding | ||
committees of the legislature. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |